HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2005

COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Rep. Dennis A. Arakaki, Chair

Rep. Josh Green, M.D., Vice Chair

 

Rep. Rida T.R. Cabanilla

Rep. Alex M. Sonson

Rep. Helene H. Hale

Rep. Lynn Finnegan

Rep. Scott Y. Nishimoto

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:

February 7, 2005

TIME:

9:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 329

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

HEARING WILL CONVENE AT 8:30 A.M.

A M E N D E D A G E N D A

HB 848

RELATING TO EXTERNAL REVIEW.

Amends provisions relating to external review for members of health care plans.

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 1065

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Provides parity by removing all rates, terms, or conditions, including service limits and financial requirements, on mental health benefits coverage. Provides employers a tax credit of 50 per cent or $500 of the premiums for mental health coverage. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit a report no later than January 15, 2006.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1259

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Eliminates the premium tax on health insurers, except on health care services furnished through the QUEST medical assistance program.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1066

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE INSURANCE TAX CREDIT.

Provides a tax credit to employers who provide health care coverage for their part-time employees at the lesser of 50% of premiums paid or $     per part-time employee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2005.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1001

RELATING TO MEDICAL RESEARCH.

Requires medical research subject to chapter 324, HRS, that includes prescription drugs as part of a clinical trial, research, or experimental treatment for serious or life-threatening diseases to register the study with a public registry; public registry information shall include potential benefit and harm.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1048

RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Requires tobacco manufacturers to report annually to the Department of Health (DOH) on added constituents and nicotine in tobacco products. Requires DOH to investigate public health risks and develop standards to reduce risks associated with exposure to these constituents. Includes tobacco products in the definition of "consumer commodity" in chapter 328.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1052

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes a pharmaceutical cost management council to consider strategies to manage increasing costs of prescription drugs and increase access to prescription drugs for all Hawaii residents.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1110

RELATING TO NURSING.

Re-establishes a two-year Operation Nightingale program to help nurses review for the state Board of Nursing examination.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1008

RELATING TO SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM.

Emphasizes that health aides shall be provided for all public schools, including all new century charter schools and new century conversion charter schools.

HLT, EDN, FIN

HB 1579

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires a franchise retail food establishment to include nutritional information about each standard menu item.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 646

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Includes therapeutic massage and physical therapy treatments, when prescribed by a medical doctor and limited to no more than 30 visits, as PIP benefits. Limits the combined total of chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, therapeutic massage, and physical therapy treatments to no more than 30 visits.

HLT, LAB, CPC

HB 647

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Provides a "fast-track" certification process for foreign HMOs.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 654

RELATING TO EXTERNAL REVIEW PANELS.

Authorizes the payment of a fee of $400 to each physician member of an external review panel.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 656

RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS EXAMINATIONS.

Accepts regional and national examinations for dentists, and the state, regional and national examinations for dental hygienists.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 663

RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT.

Provides for an external review process of health insurance coverage decisions that would not be pre-empted by ERISA.

HLT, CPC, JUD

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

DECISION MAKING ONLY – NO TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN

HB 395

RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS.

Conforms the law to a recent Hawaii Supreme Court decision by amending the Patients' Bill of Rights external review procedure under which patients may appeal a managed care plan's final, internal decision to deny coverage of a health intervention. (Deferred from 1/31/05)

HLT, CPC/JUD, FIN

HB 510

RELATING TO SMOKING.

Prohibits smoking on public beaches and parks and certain recreational areas. Prohibits disposal of smoking waste in any place where smoking is prohibited, except in designated waste disposal container. Subjects violators to $250 fine. (Deferred from 1/31/05)

HLT, WLO, JUD

HB 538

RELATING TO MANDATORY OVERTIME FOR NURSES.

Prohibits both public and private hospitals from forcing nurses to work overtime, except in cases of a federal, state, or county declared emergency. Excludes nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists from mandatory overtime requirements. (Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, LAB, FIN

HB 542

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires health care facilities to submit to the department of health a nurse staffing plan that was developed by a committee of nurses employed by health care facilities. (Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 854

RELATING TO MEDICAL LIABILITY.

Sets a cap of $250,000 on noneconomic damages that may be recovered from a physician or surgeon in a medical liability action for emergency care services provided in the emergency room of a hospital. (Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 361

RELATING TO THE ILLEGAL USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Appropriates funds for state agencies and the counties for crystal methamphetamine (ice) treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, education, environmental damage assessments, and program monitoring initiatives.

HLT, JUD, FIN

HB 385

RELATING TO CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE.

Allocates the one-half-cent increase in the tobacco tax that took effect on 7/1/04, and an additional one-half-cent increase in the tobacco tax that proposed to take effect on 7/1/05, to prevention and treatment programs and services for crystal methamphetamine. (Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, JUD, FIN

HB 648

RELATING TO TORTS.

Imposes limitations on awards of noneconomic and punitive damages and attorney's fees. Allocates damages in proportion to degree of negligence. Prohibits joint liability and allows periodic payment of future damages in medical tort actions. (Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 662

RELATING TO TORTS.

Exempts physicians from liability when they are in good faith rendering emergency medical care. (Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 181

RELATING TO MEDICAL TORTS.

Amends the law relating to medical torts to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system in Hawaii. (Heard 1/31/05, Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 237

RELATING TO TORTS.

Shortens statute of limitations for medical malpractice action. Caps noneconomic damages and contingent attorney's fees awards. Permits evidence of collateral benefits. Disallows punitive damages claim in initial complaint. Permits periodic payments of future damages. (Heard 1/31/05, Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 102

RELATING TO MEDICAL RESEARCH.

Requires medical research subject to chapter 324, HRS, that includes prescription drugs as part of a clinical trial, research, or experimental treatment for a serious or life-threatening diseases to register the study with a public registry; public registry information shall include potential benefit and harm. (Heard 1/31/05, Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 516

RELATING TO EMERGENCY HEALTH POWERS.

Provides broad powers to the department of health to respond to a public health emergency. (Heard 1/31/05, Deferred from 2/3/05)

HLT, JUD/CPC, FIN

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 30 COPIES OF THEIR TESTIMONY AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO: (1) THE COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 327, STATE CAPITOL, OR (2) THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS TESTIMONY DROP OFF BOX IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT. TESTIMONY MAY ALSO BE FAXED IF LESS THAN 5 PAGES IN LENGTH TO THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT: 586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS). WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING, AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8-1/2" X 11" SHEET WITH TWO HOLES PUNCHED AT THE TOP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6050.

IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

________________________________________

Rep. Dennis A. Arakaki

Chair