Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 731 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to include care, services, and supplies provided by occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and licensed massage therapists in the workers' compensation law.

The Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii, Queen's Medical Center Occupational Therapy Department, Kapiolani Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Neuroscience Department at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program – Hawaii Region, Straub Clinic and Hospital Occupational Therapy Department, ILWU Local 142, Massage Therapists Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. Several concerned individuals supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the services of occupational therapists and their assistants, as well as licensed massage therapists, are invaluable to many who are suffering from work-related injuries. However, their services are not compensable under existing workers' compensation law.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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 H.B. No. 731, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 731, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.