Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 653 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to eliminate substance abuse counselor certification requirements to certain licensed professionals, such as physicians, psychologists, clinical social workers, and advanced practice registered nurses, for health insurance reimbursement.

The Department of Health, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaii Psychological Association, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Medical Association, and Hawaii Nurses Association testified in support of this bill.

Existing statutory provisions require certain licensed health care professionals to receive credentialing from the Department of Health to provide and be reimbursed for substance abuse treatment. Your Committee finds that this credentialing requirement is unnecessary because these professionals are already certified by their respective professional organizations.

There is a great need for professionals with specialized training to treat substance abuse. Your Committee finds that this bill would increase the number of licensed professionals who are eligible to be reimbursed for substance abuse treatment services, which would in turn improve accessibility to substance abuse treatment services, particularly in areas where there are few certified practitioners.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 653, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 653, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.