STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1088

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1258

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 1258, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEHEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow for the use of standard telephone contact for telehealth purposes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, AARP Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Association, Oahu Kidney Care, Hawaii Medical Association, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waimānalo Health Center, Children's Doctors LLC, Hawaii Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Psychological Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2 (Regular Session of 2021), a substantially similar measure, was previously passed by your Committee.  H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2 ensures that physicians have the flexibility to establish a physician-patient relationship through telehealth, which will increase access to care for residents in the State.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2, a measure that authorizes the establishment of a physician-patient relationship via a telehealth interaction if the physician is licensed in the State;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1258, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1258, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair