Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 588, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to streamline the license renewal procedure for physicians, emergency medical service personnel, and podiatrists.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Lieutenant Governor, Board of Medical Examiners (Board), and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that, currently, physicians, surgeons, emergency medical ambulance service personnel, and podiatrists are required, at the time of renewal, to submit documentation indicating that they have complied with continuing education requirements. Due to the large number of licensees submitting documentation, the renewal process is cumbersome and time-consuming. Board staff reviews each renewal to ensure that documentation has been submitted. However, as there is no uniform or standard form of documentation employed by the providers of continuing education programs, a speedy review of the documentation is not possible. This measure deletes the requirement of presenting evidence of continuing education and allows the Board instead to conduct random audits to monitor compliance with continuing education requirements.

This measure also requires physicians and surgeons to obtain credit hours in a category 1 continuing medical education program accredited by the American Medical Association or as approved by the Board. Currently, the Board's rules require forty hours of category 1 activities and sixty hours of category 2 activities. This bill would delete the category 2 requirement.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 588, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.