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HB2145
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
2145
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING
TO INSURANCE COVERAGE OF PROTON BEAM THERAPY
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1
.
�
Chapter 431,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I of
article 10A to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
����
"
�431:10A-
�
Cancer treatment; proton beam therapy.
�
(a)
�
An individual or group policy of accident and
health or sickness insurance issued or renewed in the State on or after January
1, 2027, that provides coverage or benefits to a policyholder or individuals
covered under the policy for radiation oncology shall include coverage or
benefits for medically necessary proton beam therapy for the treatment of
cancer.
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(b)
�
An
individual or group policy of accident and health or sickness insurance issued
or renewed in the State on or after January 1, 2027, that provides coverage to
a policyholder or individuals covered under the policy for the treatment of
cancer shall not apply a higher standard of clinical evidence for the coverage
of proton beam therapy than the insurer applies for the coverage of any other
form of radiation therapy treatment.
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(c)
�
This
section shall not apply to limited benefit health insurance as provided in
section 431:10A-607.
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(d)
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As
used in this section:
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"Medically necessary" has the same
meaning as defined in section 432E-1.4.
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"Proton beam therapy" means a type
of radiation therapy treatment that utilizes protons as the radiation delivery
method for the treatment of tumors and cancerous cells.
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"Radiation therapy treatment" means
the delivery of biological effective doses with proton therapy, intensity
modulated radiation therapy, brachytherapy, stereotactic body radiation
therapy, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, or other forms of
therapy using radiation.
"
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SECTION
2
.
�
Chapter
432
, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part VI of article 1 to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:
����
"
�432:1-
�
Cancer treatment; proton beam therapy.
�
(a)
�
An individual or group hospital or medical
service plan contract issued or renewed in the State on or after January 1,
2027, that provides coverage or benefits to a member or individuals covered
under the plan contract for radiation oncology shall include coverage or
benefits for medically necessary proton beam therapy for the treatment of
cancer.
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(b)
�
An
individual or group hospital or medical service plan contract issued or renewed
in the State on or after January 1, 2027, that provides coverage to a
member or individuals covered under the plan contract for the treatment of
cancer shall not apply a higher standard of clinical evidence for the coverage
of proton beam therapy than the mutual benefit society applies for the coverage
of any other form of radiation therapy treatment.
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(c)
�
As
used in this section:
����
"Medically necessary" has the same
meaning as defined in section 432E-1.4.
����
"Proton beam therapy" means a type
of radiation therapy treatment that utilizes protons as the radiation delivery
method for the treatment of tumors and cancerous cells.
����
"Radiation therapy treatment" means
the delivery of biological effective doses with proton therapy, intensity
modulated radiation therapy, brachytherapy, stereotactic body radiation
therapy, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, or other forms of
therapy using radiation.
"
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SECTION
3
.
�
Section
431:10A-126, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title to read
as follows:
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"
�431:10A-126
�
Cancer treatment[
.
]
;
chemotherapy.
"
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SECTION
4
.
�
Section
432:1-616, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title to read as
follows:
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"
�432:1-616
�
Cancer treatment[
.
]
;
chemotherapy.
"
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SECTION
5
.
�
Section
432D:23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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"
�432D-23
�
Required provisions and
benefits.
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Notwithstanding any
provision of law to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement
issued in the State after January 1, 1995, by health maintenance organizations
pursuant to this chapter, shall include benefits provided in sections
431:10-212, 431:10A-115, 431:10A-115.5, 431:10A-116, 431:10A-116.2,
431:10A-116.5, 431:10A-116.6, 431:10A-119, 431:10A-120, 431:10A-121,
431:10A-122, 431:10A-125, 431:10A-126, 431:10A-132, 431:10A-133,
431:10A-134,
431:10A-140, and [
431:10A-134,
]
431:10A- ,
and
chapter 431M."
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SECTION 6.
�
The coverage and benefits to be provided by a
health maintenance organization under section 5 of this Act shall take effect
for all policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the
State on or after January 1, 2027.
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SECTION 7.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.
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SECTION 8.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Health Insurance;
Cancer Treatment; Proton Beam Therapy; Mandatory Coverage
Description:
Beginning,
1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health
maintenance organizations to provide coverage for medically necessary proton
beam therapy for cancer treatment and prohibits imposing stricter clinical
evidence standards on proton beam therapy than on other radiation treatments.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.