STAND. COM. REP. NO. 370

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 215
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 215 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED
     NURSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require health insurance
policies and workers' compensation insurance policies to
reimburse for services of advanced practice registered nurses.

     Testimony in support of this measure was presented by the
Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and
Hawaii Nurses Association.  Hawaii Nurse-Midwives and seven
private citizens, though not present, submitted written testimony
in support of the measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association,
though not present, submitted written testimony in opposition.
Kaiser Permanente, though not present, submitted written
informational testimony.

     Your Committee finds that advanced practice registered
nurses are required to be certified and must meet high
professional standards for that purpose.  They are trained and
competent health care professionals who render a much needed
medical service.  As such, your Committee believes that their
services, like any other health care provider's services, should
be reimbursed by insurance.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 370
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 215 and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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