STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1361

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.B. No. 134
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No.
134, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase alcohol and
substance abuse care by:

     (1)  Allowing physicians to provide treatment services for
          mental health and substance abuse; and

     (2)  Exempting physicians from certification requirements
          for substance abuse treatment.

     The Hawaii Medical Association and the Hawaii Psychiatric
Medical Association testified in support of this measure.  The
Department of Health testified in opposition to this measure.
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted
comments.

     Your Committee finds that this measure, as written, would
allow every physician, from a dermatologist to a podiatrist, to
be reimbursed as a certified substance abuse counselor to provide
substance abuse treatment.  This is not the intent of this
measure, and therefore, your Committee has amended this bill by
deleting its substance and inserting language from a similar
measure, H.B. No. 328, H.D. 1.  As amended, this measure expands

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1361
                                 Page 2

 
alcohol and drug abuse treatment coverage to only physicians who
are board certified in addiction psychiatry.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
134, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 134, S.D.
1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer
Protection and Commerce.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair