Bill Text: HI HCR68 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 68 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Palliative Care; Insurance; Coverage

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-04 - (H) Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting no and Carroll, M. Oshiro, Takai, Tokioka excused. [HCR68 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HCR68-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	68
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting health insurers in Hawaii to provide coverage or reimbursement for services related to palliative care.

WHEREAS, palliative care is specialized health care for patients who are diagnosed with a serious and life-threatening illness that begins when the patient receives a diagnosis of the illness, regardless of prognosis; and

WHEREAS, the goals of palliative treatment are: relief from suffering, treatment of pain and other distressing symptoms, psychological and spiritual care, a support system to help the individual live as actively as possible, and a support system to sustain and rehabilitate the individual's family; and

WHEREAS, palliative care involves the provision of patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality-of-life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering; and

WHEREAS, the number of older citizens is increasing, as well as the number of people living with chronic diseases, and palliative care is often the most desirable and effective care for many of these people; and

WHEREAS, research increasingly supports the use of palliative care for severely ill patients, because it improves the quality of life, allows patients to choose their treatment options, and is a cost-effective or cost neutral alternative treatment; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that accident and health or sickness insurers in Hawaii, including mutual benefit societies and health maintenance organizations, are requested to provide coverage or reimbursement for palliative care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Hawaii Medical Board and the Insurance Commissioner, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to each accident and health or sickness insurer including mutual benefit societies and health maintenance organizations in the State that issues health insurance policies.