Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 731, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to include services provided by occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants under the worker's compensation law. Specifically, this bill:

Queen's Medical Center Occupational Therapy Department, Neuroscience Department of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program - Hawaii Region, Hawaii Chapter American Physical Therapy Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Massage Therapists Association, Mestizo Association, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations testified in opposition to this bill.

Your Committee finds that health care services under the Worker's Compensation Law are presently limited to services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dispensing opticians, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, nurses, advance practice registered nurses, and masseurs.

Your Committee further finds that the services of occupational therapists and their assistants are invaluable for many persons who are suffering from work-related injuries, yet they are not included among the health care providers whose services are compensable under the present worker's compensation statute.

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. 731, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.