STAND. COM. REP. NO.  507-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1831

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1831 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to keep abreast of the advances in health care by updating the scope of practice for chiropractic to reflect the standards of care, practices, and terminology.  Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Clarifies the definition of chiropractic;

 

     (2)  Clarifies the additional post-licensure examinations that the state board of chiropractic examiners may require; and

 

     (3)  Allows a chiropractor to use the term, "chiropractic physician".  

 

     The Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Hawaii State Chiropractic Association, and one concerned individual supported this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed this measure.  The American Medical Association, ARC/Advocacy Resource Center offered comments.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

 

     Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, should it choose to consider this measure, consider concerns raised regarding whether the expansion of chiropractors' scope of treatment will lead to higher medical costs for motor vehicle and workers' compensation insurance, whether the quality of care for injured persons will be adversely affected, and whether chiropractors' treatment should be limited to the spine, as well as the suggestion that this measure should limit the chiropractic reimbursement amount and the number of treatments provided by chiropractors under the motor vehicle insurance law.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1831, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1831, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair