CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT NO.76

                            Honolulu, Hawaii
                                            , 2000

                            RE:   S.B. No. 2186
                                  S.D. 2
                                  H.D. 2
                                  C.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the
Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives
in S.B. No. 2186, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:  

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE," 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to
recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final
passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to regulate the practices of
individuals who review or audit billings for medical services to
prevent the use of unreasonable or harsh tactics in billing
reviews and to remove financial incentives for the denial or
reduction of payments to providers.  Under the licensure scheme
established in this measure, independent bill reviewers (IBRs)
must meet minimum qualifications, pay a licensing fee, submit to
examination by the insurance commissioner, and maintain records.
Further, this measure prohibits an IBR from receiving
compensation based on a contingency fee.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

 
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                            CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT NO.76
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     (1)  Deleting the word "independent" from the term
          "independent bill reviewer" in the title of article 9,
          chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to make the title
          less restrictive; and

     (2)  Providing that the appropriations provision of the
          measure takes effect on July 1, 2000, rather than on
          July 1, 2050.
 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your
Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your
Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2186, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto
as S.B. No. 2186, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the managers:

  ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE           ON THE PART OF THE SENATE




_____________________________     _______________________________
Rep. RON MENOR                    Sen. BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI
Co-Chair                          Co-Chair



_____________________________     _______________________________
Rep. BRIAN Y. YAMANE              Sen. BRIAN KANNO
Co-Chair                          Co-Chair

 
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