Bill Text: HI HCR52 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requesting The Auditor To Assess Both The Social And Financial Effects Of Proposed Mandated Health Insurance Coverage For The Costs Of Medically Necessary Transportation To The Continental United States For Qualifying Patients.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Passed) 2018-04-25 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HCR52 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HCR52-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
52 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS BOTH THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE COSTS OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION TO THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES FOR QUALIFYING PATIENTS.
WHEREAS, critically ill patients in Hawaii may require treatment on the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, commercial flights are not an option for these patients because each patient requires life-supporting equipment and a medical support team; and
WHEREAS, the cost of transportation by an air ambulance can be a significant financial burden that may not be covered by insurance; and
WHEREAS, although Medicaid currently covers the cost of transportation to the continental United States for Hawaii's most needy families, those who are middle-income earners and working full-time do not receive comparable coverage; and
WHEREAS, for many patients requiring transportation to the continental United States, their only options are to mortgage their homes, drain retirement savings, borrow from family or friends, or establish an online campaign to raise funds; and
WHEREAS, during the time that a family is fundraising for a sick loved one, the patient's condition may rapidly deteriorate and reduce the chance of recovery; and
WHEREAS, if a delay in treatment is too long, then the accepting facility on the mainland may give the patient's bed to another individual, and the patient is forced to find another accepting facility; and
WHEREAS, due to Hawaii's unique position in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the State's residents deserve to receive life-saving medical care that is not available in the State; and
WHEREAS, H.B. No. 687, H.D. 2, considered during the Regular Session of 2018, proposes to require insurance coverage for the costs of medically necessary transportation to the continental United States for qualifying patients; and
WHEREAS, in testimony submitted to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce regarding H.B. No. 687, H.D. 1, the Hawaii Medical Service Association suggested that the measure be amended by amending the term "qualifying patient" to mean a patient who is, among other qualifying criteria, on medically-necessary extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or mechanical circulatory support (including percutaneous ventricular assist devices and intraaortic balloon pump therapies) in order to qualify for the mandated coverage proposed in the measure; and
WHEREAS, H.B. No. 687, H.D. 2, does not incorporate the foregoing requested amendment; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before any legislative measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group health insurance policies, can be considered, concurrent resolutions shall be passed that designate a specific legislative bill for the Auditor to prepare a report, which is commonly known as a "sunrise review", for submission to the Legislature that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage under that legislative bill; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to assess, pursuant to section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated health insurance coverage under H.B. No. 687, H.D. 2, Regular Session of 2018, which requires insurance coverage for the costs of medically necessary transportation to the continental United States for qualifying patients; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the course of conducting its assessment, the Auditor is requested to assess the social and financial effects of amending the existing definition of the term "qualifying patient", as it appears in H.B. No. 687, H.D. 2, to include a provision that requires a patient be on medically-necessary extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or mechanical circulatory support (including percutaneous ventricular assist devices and intraaortic balloon pump therapies) to qualify for the mandated covered benefit proposed in the measure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor.
Mandated Coverage; Transportation; Auditor; Sunrise Review
