Bill Text: HI SB794 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Health Insurance; Children; Weight Management and Obesity Prevention, Evaluation, and Guidance Services
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB794 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB794-Introduced.html
Report Title:
Health Insurance; Children; Weight Management and Obesity Prevention, Evaluation, and Guidance Services
Description:
Requires health insurance providers to cover weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance services for children.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
794 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that childhood obesity constitutes one of Hawaii's most pressing health problems today. Obesity in children has been associated with the growing incidence of type II diabetes, poor self-esteem, and poor health as adults. Some communities in Hawaii have much higher rates of obesity when compared to the rest of the nation.
Since the pediatrician is usually the first line of intervention with a child's health, anticipatory guidance from pediatricians and family physicians is likely to offer an effective intervention to evaluate, treat, and prevent obesity.
The Hawaii pediatric weight management toolkit was designed in response to the childhood obesity epidemic here in Hawaii. The tool kit provides physicians with data about the child. It includes worksheets to fill out that assess the child's medical history, activity, and nutritional habits. The toolkit also provides behavioral tip sheets for physicians to review with the parent and child, and forms that parents are asked to fill out with information about the child.
Behavioral changes are suggested in five areas: reducing sugar-sweetened drinks, reducing sedentary activities, developing a strategy to deal with fast foods, encouraging more physical activity, and alternatives to white rice.
The purpose of this Act is to require health insurance providers to include in their policies coverage for weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance services for children covered under the policy.
SECTION 2. Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§431:10A- Weight management and obesity prevention coverage; children. (a) All individual and group accident and health or sickness insurance policies shall provide coverage for weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance services for any dependent of a subscriber; provided that:
(1) The dependent is covered by the subscriber's policy; and
(2) The dependent is under the age of sixteen years old.
(b) For the purposes of this section, "weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance services" means the application of the Hawaii pediatric weight management toolkit or other similar protocols that provide effective weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance."
SECTION 3. Chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§432:1- Weight management and obesity prevention coverage; children. (a) Each policy, contract, plan, or agreement shall provide coverage for weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance services for any dependent of a subscriber; provided that:
(1) The dependent is covered by the subscriber's policy; and
(2) The dependent is under the age of sixteen years old.
(b) For the purposes of this section, "weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance services" means the application of the Hawaii pediatric weight management toolkit or other similar protocols that provide effective weight management and obesity prevention, evaluation, and guidance."
SECTION 4. Section 432D-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§432D-23 Required provisions and benefits.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each policy, contract,
plan, or agreement issued in the State after January 1, 1995, by health
maintenance organizations pursuant to this chapter, shall include benefits
provided in sections 431:10-212, 431:10A-115, 431:10A-115.5, 431:10A-116,
431:10A‑116.5, 431:10A-116.6, 431:10A-119, 431:10A-120, [and]
431:10A-121, 431:10A- , and chapter 431M."
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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