STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1107-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.R. No. 127
                                     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.R. No. 127 entitled: 

     "HOUSE 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 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 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
resolution.

     Your Committee has amended this 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. 1107-00
                                 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 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.R. No. 127, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption
in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 127, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair