THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              83
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO DETERMINE HOW THE COST
    SAVINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MOTOR VEHICLE REFORM UNDER ACT
    251, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 1997, HAS IMPACTED CONSUMER
    ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICALLY REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND
    APPROPRIATE REFERRAL TO MASSAGE THERAPY AND PHYSICAL
    THERAPY.



 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 comprehensive study to identify the source of
19   such savings is necessary to determine the efficacy of
20   chiropractor referrals to ultimately maximize benefits and
21   services to insureds; now, therefore,
22   
23        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
24   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the
25   Insurance Commissioner is requested to determine how the cost
26   savings attributable to motor vehicle insurance reform under
27   Act 251, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, has impacted consumer
28   accessibility to medically reasonable, necessary, and
29   appropriate referral to physical therapy and massage therapy;
30   and

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              83
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   
 2        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Insurance Commissioner is
 3   requested to report the Commissioner's findings and
 4   recommendations to this body twenty days prior to the convening
 5   of the Regular Session of 2001; and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
 8   Resolution be transmitted to the Insurance Commissioner.
 9   
10 
11 
12 
13                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________