COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Rep. Dennis A. Arakaki, Chair

Rep. Josh Green, M.D., Vice Chair

HB 967

Requires DOH to publish food establishment violations on its web site each month. Requires a food establishment, upon request, to permit a customer to view a copy of the current inspection report, including inspection findings, any violation found, and any penalty. Imposes a fine for noncompliance.

HLT, JUD, FIN

HB 1478

Appropriates funds for on-call emergency care services at The Queen's Medical Center in support of its emergency department and trauma center. Requires the legislative reference bureau in partnership with the Center to study the impact of the on-call crisis center on the State's Level II Trauma Center.

HLT, LMG, FIN

HB 573

Requires businesses engaged in the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products at the retail level to acquire a retail tobacco permit from the Department of Taxation. Provides criminal penalties for the retail sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products without a valid retail tobacco permit, and for the seizure and for forfeiture of cigarettes and other tobacco products sold, possessed, dept, acquired, distributed, or transported without a valid retail tobacco permit.

HLT, JUD, FIN

HB 1035

Reduces acceptable levels of heterotrophic bacteria in surface water systems from 500/ml to 100/ml.

HLT, WLO, CPC/JUD

HB 1036

Reduces acceptable levels of heterotrophic bacteria in surface water systems from 500/ml to 100/ml.

HLT, WLO, CPC/JUD

HB 1487

Requires insurers, hospital and medical services plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for survivors of brain injuries including, among other things, cognitive and neurocognitive therapy, neurobehavioral and neuropsychological testing or treatment, and necessary post-acute transition services or community reintegration activities.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 673

Makes an emergency appropriation ($981,719) for additional funds from the Early Intervention Special Fund for FY 2004-2005, for the Family Health Services Division for early intervention services for infants and children from birth to three years of age.

HLT, EDN, FIN

HB 686

Abolishes the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances.

HLT, JUD, FIN

HB 728

HUS/HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 1334

Establishes a long-term care mandatory premium to pay for long-term care benefits; establishes long-term care income tax credit for amounts paid for purchase of long-term care insurance; appropriates funds. (Deferred from 2/7/05.)

HLT/HUS, CPC, FIN

HB 848

Amends provisions relating to external review for members of health care plans. (Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 1066

Provides a tax credit to employers who provide health care coverage for their part-time employees at the lesser of 50% of premiums paid or $     per part-time employee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2005. (Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 646

Includes therapeutic massage and physical therapy treatments, when prescribed by a medical doctor and limited to no more than 30 visits, as PIP benefits. Limits the combined total of chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, therapeutic massage, and physical therapy treatments to no more than 30 visits. (Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, LAB, CPC

HB 647

Provides a "fast-track" certification process for foreign HMOs. (Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 663

Provides for an external review process of health insurance coverage decisions that would not be pre-empted by ERISA. (Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 395

Conforms the law to a recent Hawaii Supreme Court decision by amending the Patients' Bill of Rights external review procedure under which patients may appeal a managed care plan's final, internal decision to deny coverage of a health intervention. (Heard 1/31/05. Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, CPC/JUD, FIN

HB 538

Prohibits both public and private hospitals from forcing nurses to work overtime, except in cases of a federal, state, or county declared emergency. Excludes nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists from mandatory overtime requirements. (Heard 2/3/05. Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, LAB, FIN

HB 516

Provides broad powers to the department of health to respond to a public health emergency. (Heard 1/31/05. Deferred 2/7/05.)

HLT, JUD/CPC, FIN

Chair