S.R. 123 Summary

• Urges health insurance providers to cover routine STI and HIV screenings for all persons without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or symptom status.

• Identifies the 2018 record number of confirmed cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in the United States as a public health concern.

• Distinguishes routine screening (testing without symptoms) from diagnostic testing (testing to investigate symptoms), noting many STI cases are asymptomatic.

• Addresses insurer policies that limit screening coverage based on perceived demographic risk levels, asserting individuals have better understanding of their own health risk.

• Directs the Insurance Commissioner to transmit the resolution to all health insurance issuers operating in Hawaii.