Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that telehealth services are reimbursed.

This bill establishes telehealth as a reimbursable health care service covered through insurers of accident and health insurance policies, mutual benefit society plans, and health maintenance organization plans. Reimbursing health care providers for the telehealth services they provide will enable individuals, particularly those residing in rural communities, to gain access to effective and prompt health care.

Your Committee on Conference amended this bill by changing the effective date to "upon its approval."

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.