THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

399

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to health.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Act 251, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997 (Act 251), provided much demanded and much needed amendments to the motor vehicle insurance law to reduce motor vehicle insurance premiums and preserve adequate protection of the rights of drivers.  One provision in Act 251 tied all provider fees to the medicare fee schedule used under workers' compensation law and set the benefit for chiropractic and acupuncture treatments at thirty visits at no more than $75 per visit.  Acupuncture codes were not included in the medicare fee schedule as of the effective date of Act 251, and acupuncturists were therefore placed under the same restrictions as chiropractors.  The benefit allowed for acupuncture treatments has not increased in nearly twenty years, while rates for other services, such as physical therapy and medical office visits, have increased over the years.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the authorized benefit for acupuncture treatments allowed under personal injury protection benefits provided through motor vehicle insurance.

     SECTION 2.  Section 431:10C-103.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Acupuncture treatments shall be allowed for no more than thirty visits at no more than [$75] $105.70 a visit[.]; provided that the maximum payment amount under this subsection shall be increased in December of each year by the same percentage of increase, if any, of the medicare economic index for that calendar year from the medicare economic index for the prior calendar year."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Motor Vehicle Insurance; Personal Injury Protection Benefits; Acupuncture Treatments

 

Description:

Increases the authorized benefit for acupuncture treatments allowed under personal injury protection benefits provided through motor vehicle insurance.  Ties increases in payments for acupuncture treatments in with annual increases, if any, to the medicare economic index.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.