THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 229 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 S.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS EXAMINATIONS.
THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 229
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
229
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS EXAMINATIONS.
WHEREAS, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in five Americans experience a mental illness or disorder each year; and WHEREAS, less than half of those experiencing a mental illness or disorder receive mental health services, such as counseling or prescription medication; and WHEREAS, health insurers are currently not required to cover annual mental health wellness examinations; and WHEREAS, S.B. No. 728, introduced during the Regular Session of 2021, and S.B. No. 2467, S.D. 2, introduced during the Regular Session of 2022, require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations that provide coverage for health care to provide coverage for annual mental health wellness examinations; and WHEREAS, pursuant to section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before any legislative measures that mandate 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, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed that designate a specific legislative bill for the Auditor to review and on which to prepare a report for submission to the Legislature that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage, and S.B. No. 728, Regular Session of 2021, and S.B. No. 2467, S.D. 2, Regular Session of 2022, are such measures; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an assessment, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the social and financial effects of mandating health insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness examinations, as proposed in S.B. No. 728, Regular Session of 2021, and S.B. No. 2467, S.D. 2, Regular Session of 2022; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to define "mental health wellness examination", similar to the manner by which annual physical examinations administered by primary care providers are established, to allow health insurers to determine coverage requirements; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to include in the impact assessment report a survey of other states in the United States that have implemented a mandate for annual mental health wellness examination benefits and to examine the resulting social and financial impact in those states; 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 2023; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and Insurance Commissioner. Report Title: Mental Health Wellness Examination; Auditor; Assessment
WHEREAS, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in five Americans experience a mental illness or disorder each year; and
WHEREAS, less than half of those experiencing a mental illness or disorder receive mental health services, such as counseling or prescription medication; and
WHEREAS, health insurers are currently not required to cover annual mental health wellness examinations; and
WHEREAS, S.B. No. 728, introduced during the Regular Session of 2021, and S.B. No. 2467, S.D. 2, introduced during the Regular Session of 2022, require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations that provide coverage for health care to provide coverage for annual mental health wellness examinations; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before any legislative measures that mandate 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, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed that designate a specific legislative bill for the Auditor to review and on which to prepare a report for submission to the Legislature that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage, and S.B. No. 728, Regular Session of 2021, and S.B. No. 2467, S.D. 2, Regular Session of 2022, are such measures; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an assessment, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the social and financial effects of mandating health insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness examinations, as proposed in S.B. No. 728, Regular Session of 2021, and S.B. No. 2467, S.D. 2, Regular Session of 2022; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to define "mental health wellness examination", similar to the manner by which annual physical examinations administered by primary care providers are established, to allow health insurers to determine coverage requirements; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to include in the impact assessment report a survey of other states in the United States that have implemented a mandate for annual mental health wellness examination benefits and to examine the resulting social and financial impact in those states; 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 2023; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and Insurance Commissioner.
Report Title:
Mental Health Wellness Examination; Auditor; Assessment