THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	175
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING COVERAGE OF annual mental health SCREENING.

 

 

        WHEREAS, according to the National Institute for Mental Health, in 2019, approximately 51,500,000, or eighteen percent, of adults in the United States experiences a mental illness or disorder; and

 

        WHEREAS, only forty-four percent of those individuals received mental health services for their mental illness; and

 

        WHEREAS, mental health issues are closely tied to physical health issues such as increased occurrences of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, epilepsy, and cancer; and

 

        WHEREAS, mental health issues cost the United States economy close to $200,000,000,000 in lost wages in addition to $100,000,000,000 in healthcare costs; and

 

        WHEREAS, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, costing approximately $51,000,000,000 each year; and

 

        WHEREAS, S.B. No. 728, Regular Session of 2021, would require health insurers and similar entities that provide coverage for health care to provide coverage for annual mental health screenings; 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, a concurrent resolution shall be passed that designates 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 under that legislative bill; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, 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 care coverage of annual mental health screenings, as provided in S.B. No. 728, Regular Session of 2021; 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 2022; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and Insurance Commissioner.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

Auditor; Insurance; Mental Health Screening