STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1430

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.B. No. 830
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred S.B. No. 830, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE
     REIMBURSEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require health insurers,
mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to
reimburse providers and patients within a specified time period.

     Testimony in support of this bill was received from the
Hawaii Ophthalmological Society, the Hawaii Federation of
Physicians and Dentists, Retina Associates of Hawaii, the Hawaii
Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, the
Hawaiian Eye Center, and a few concerned physicians.  The
Faulkner Institute for Eye Care and Surgery supported the intent
of this bill.

     The American Massage Therapy Association supported both the
intent and the language of this bill, except for the date of
implementation (January 1, 2001).  The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical
Association and Hawaii Medical Association supported this bill
with suggested amendments.


 
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                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1430
                                 Page 2

 
     Testimony in opposition to this bill was received from the
Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queen's Health Management, and
the Hawaii Medical Service Association.

     The Insurance Commissioner commented on this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Leaving the effective date blank in order to assure
          further discussion in conference committee, and to
          facilitate discussions among the interested parties to
          see whether a compromise can be reached; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of
          style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 830, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as S.B. No. 830, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the
Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair

 
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