STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1210-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 2227

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the conditions for mandated reimbursement of telehealth services by, among other things:

(1) Prohibiting reimbursements for telehealth consultations between health care providers unless a health care provider-patient relationship exists between the patient and one of the health care providers involved in the telehealth interaction;

(2) Specifying that a telehealth mechanism may be used to establish a health care provider-patient relationship; and

(3) Clarifying the definition of "telehealth" by including certain types of telecommunications services and excluding others.

 

The Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Pacific Islands Chapter of the American Telemedicine Association, Hawaii Psychological Association, and several concerned individuals supported this bill. The Hawaii Medical Service Association supported the intent of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair