Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 105 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize a study of the social and financial effects of mandating equitable health insurance reimbursement for treatment provided by a physician with a nutrition subspecialty.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association and an individual testified in support of this measure.

S.B. No. 612, which was introduced in 2003 and carried over to the 2004 Regular Session, proposes to require health insurers to reimburse physicians with a nutrition subspecialty at a rate commensurate with the reimbursement rate for board certified physician specialists. Under section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before the Legislature may consider a measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or services provided by certain health care providers, the Auditor, pursuant to a concurrent resolution, must first assess both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage. This measure authorizes the mandatory assessment.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 105 and recommend its adoption.