STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1108-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 145
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.C.R. No. 145 entitled: 

     "HOUSE 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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request a
study by the Insurance Commissioner (Commissioner) of the effect
of the cost savings attributable to motor vehicle reform under
Act 251, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, on consumer access through
chiropractor referral, to medically reasonable and necessary
massage therapy and physical therapy services.

     Testimony in support of this concurrent resolution was
submitted by the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association and Hawaii
Chapter American Physical Therapy Association.  The Commissioner
stated willingness to participate in any study required under the
concurrent resolution.

     Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Enlarging the scope of the study to be performed by the
          Commissioner, by requesting that the study not only
          examine the impact of cost savings under Act 251 on

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1108-00
                                 Page 2

 
          consumer access to physical and massage therapy
          referrals, but also determine whether limits on access
          under the Act have resulted in cost savings;

     (2)  Rewording the title of the concurrent resolution to
          read:

          REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO DETERMINE
          WHETHER MOTOR VEHICLE REFORM UNDER ACT 251, SESSION
          LAWS OF HAWAII 1997, HAS IMPACTED CONSUMER ACCESS TO
          MEDICALLY REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND APPROPRIATE
          REFERRAL TO MASSAGE THERAPY AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND
          IF THIS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO CONSUMER COST SAVINGS UNDER
          THE ACT; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of H.C.R. No. 145, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption
in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 145, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair