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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO DETERMINE WHETHER
    MOTOR VEHICLE REFORM UNDER ACT 251, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII
    1997, HAS IMPACTED CONSUMER ACCESS TO MEDICALLY
    REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND APPROPRIATE REFERRAL TO MASSAGE
    THERAPY AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND IF THIS HAS CONTRIBUTED
    TO CONSUMER COST SAVINGS UNDER THE ACT.



 1        WHEREAS, the purpose of Act 251, Session Laws of Hawaii
 2   1997, as amended, was to reduce motor vehicle insurance premium
 3   rates and to preserve and protect the rights of drivers; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the Act has, in part, successfully lowered
 6   automobile insurance premium rates since its inception three
 7   years ago; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, the Act precludes and changes the practice by
10   chiropractors of referring patients to physical therapists or
11   massage therapists; and
12   
13        WHEREAS, presently, there is no data to suggest that the
14   lack of chiropractor referrals to physical therapists or
15   massage therapists is related to the cost savings in motor
16   vehicle insurance premium rates generated by Act 251; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, a study to identify the source of such savings is
19   necessary to evaluate limits on chiropractor referrals and
20   ultimately maximize benefits and services to insureds; now,
21   therefore,
22   
23        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
24   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
25   of 2000, that the Insurance Commissioner is requested to
26   determine:
27   
28        (1)  If and to what extent motor vehicle insurance reform
29             under Act 251 has affected consumer access to
30             medically reasonable, necessary, and appropriate
31             physical therapy and massage therapy services; and
32   

 
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 1        (2)  Whether and to what extent any limits placed on these
 2             referrals has contributed to cost savings realized by
 3             consumers under Act 251;
 4   
 5   and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Insurance Commissioner is
 8   requested to report the Commissioner's findings and
 9   recommendations to this body twenty days prior to the convening
10   of the Regular Session of 2001; and
11   
12        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
13   Resolution be transmitted to the Insurance Commissioner.