Hawaii House Bill HCR35

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/3/25
• Refer: 3/14/25
• Report Pass: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/25/25
• Report Pass: 4/3/25
• Refer: 4/4/25

Caption

Requesting The Auditor To Assess The Social And Financial Effects Of Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage For Biomarker Testing.

Impact

The resolution builds upon previous legislative efforts, notably House Bill No. 2223, H.D. 1, which mandated insurers to provide health coverage for medically necessary biomarker testing. As previous assessments indicated no significant social or financial impacts from this mandated coverage, HCR35 seeks to ensure ongoing evaluation of the implications as it requests a dedicated report from the auditor. This report is intended to help assess compliance and effectiveness of the coverage related to biomarker testing going forward.

Summary

HCR35 is a House Concurrent Resolution from the Thirty-third Legislature of Hawaii, requesting the state auditor to evaluate the social and financial implications of mandating health insurance coverage for biomarker testing. Biomarker testing plays a critical role in diagnosing and managing various diseases, providing healthcare professionals with valuable information that helps tailor treatment to individual patients. The resolution aims to address existing barriers in access to necessary biomarker tests, which can enhance patient care and treatment outcomes.

Contention

While the bill seems to have legislative support, there are concerns about the actual implementation and accessibility of biomarker testing despite existing mandates. Issues have been raised regarding the potential for insurers to deny coverage or delay determinations about the medical necessity of tests, which could leave patients facing out-of-pocket expenses or necessitate appeals for denied services. The ongoing discourse within the legislative committee underscores the need for close monitoring of how mandated coverage translates into real-world patient access and care.

Next_steps

The auditor is required to submit a report detailing findings and recommendations by a specified date, which could influence future legislation or adjustments to existing mandates. This resolution emphasizes the importance of continuous review in the legislative process to ensure that health insurance coverage effectively meets the needs of Hawaiian residents concerning critical medical diagnostics.