THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            165
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO DETERMINE HOW THE COST
    SAVINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MOTOR VEHICLE REFORM UNDER ACT
    251, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 1997, HAS IMPACTED CONSUMER
    ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICALLY REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND
    APPROPRIATE REFERRAL TO MASSAGE THERAPY AND PHYSICAL
    THERAPY.



 1        WHEREAS, the purpose of Act 251, Session Laws of Hawaii
 2   1997, as amended, was to reduce motor vehicle insurance premium
 3   rates and to preserve and protect the rights of drivers; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the Act has, in part, successfully lowered
 6   automobile insurance premium rates since its inception three
 7   years ago; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, the Act precludes and changes the practice by
10   chiropractors of referring patients to physical therapists or
11   massage therapists; and
12   
13        WHEREAS, presently, there is no data to suggest that the
14   lack of chiropractor referrals to physical therapists or
15   massage therapists is related to the cost savings in motor
16   vehicle insurance premium rates generated by Act 251; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, a comprehensive study to identify the source of
19   such savings is necessary to determine the efficacy of
20   chiropractor referrals to ultimately maximize benefits and
21   services to insureds; now, therefore,
22   
23        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
24   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
25   Representatives concurring, that the Insurance Commissioner is
26   requested to determine how the cost savings attributable to
27   motor vehicle insurance reform under Act 251, Session Laws of
28   Hawaii 1997, has impacted consumer accessibility to medically
29   reasonable, necessary, and appropriate referral to physical
30   therapy and massage therapy; and

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            165
                                                        
                                                        

 1   
 2        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Insurance Commissioner is
 3   requested to report the Commissioner's findings and
 4   recommendations to the Legislature twenty days prior to the
 5   convening of the Regular Session of 2001; and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
 8   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Insurance
 9   Commissioner.
10   
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14                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________