Senate committee votes to form working group to study prior-authorization effects on timely care

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services voted to pass SCR10 SR6 with amendments to create a working group that will study how prior-authorization requirements affect timely delivery of health care, the committee chair said during the committee meeting.

Jack Lewin, administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPTA), told the committee, "We believe that this resolution, the intent is a good one." Lewin said House Bill 250 already contains a reporting mechanism and appointment process he believes would better document prior-authorization practices and produce actionable results, and he suggested targeted edits to align the efforts.

The nut of the measure is to form a multi-stakeholder panel to collect data and recommend ways to reduce delays caused by prior authorization. Committee staff said the approved amendments are technical and non‑substantive, replace several membership slots with a proposed 15-member list, and allow the working group to adopt voluntary enforcement measures if it reaches consensus.

Department of Human Services testimony, provided on behalf of Director Yamane by Judy Moore Peterson, said the department "appreciates the intent of this resolution" and offered comments while deferring to the Department of Health. Rachel Wilkinson of the Hawaii Association of Health Plans asked that a representative of her association be included on the working group during her remarks.

Committee leadership noted House Bill 250 as a related vehicle and said the working group created by SCR10 SR6 would exist even if HB250 did not advance. The chair moved the recommendation to pass with amendments; the chair and the vice chair voted aye, Senator Hashimoto voted aye, Senator Keohokalole voted aye, and Senator Fevella was recorded as excused. The committee adopted the recommendation.

Committee members and witnesses said the group should produce a clear reporting mechanism so the state can document how prior authorization is used and where it causes delays; supporters said that documentation will be needed to design any statutory or administrative fixes. The working group’s membership, reporting timeline and any follow-up reporting requirements were not specified in the meeting record.

The working group will proceed under the amended resolution; committee staff indicated technical edits for clarity will be made and that the measure will move forward as amended.