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HCR 28

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS BOTH SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM AND FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS SERVICES.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 8 co-sponsors

Hawaii auditor to analyze social and financial effects of mandating autism and ABA treatment coverage in health insurance plans.

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 18
#agelimit #autism #healthinsurance #maximumcoveragebenefit #repeal
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Bill Summary · HCR 28

Legislative bill overview

HCR 28 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's auditor to conduct a comprehensive assessment of both the social benefits and financial costs of mandating health insurance coverage for autism diagnosis, treatment, and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services. The resolution does not itself create a mandate but rather calls for study and analysis before potential future legislation.

Why is this important

Autism spectrum disorder affects thousands of Hawaii residents, and ABA is an evidence-based intervention with significant costs. Before implementing insurance mandates that would affect premiums and coverage across the state, policymakers need data on who would benefit, what outcomes could be expected, and what the actual financial burden would be on insurers, employers, and consumers.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost concerns: Insurance mandates increase premiums for all policyholders; opponents worry this could price some people out of coverage or force cuts to other benefits
  • Scope ambiguity: "Proposed" coverage is undefined—unclear what age ranges, service intensity, and duration would be included in the audit's cost projections
  • Access vs. affordability trade-off: While ABA access improves outcomes for many autistic individuals, mandatory coverage could create bottlenecks in provider availability or result in reduced service quality if insurers limit reimbursement rates

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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