Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require reimbursement of telehealth services, unless a patient lacks an existing relationship with a health care provider.

"Telehealth" means the use of telecommunications services (e.g. video conferencing, web-based communication etc.) for the purpose of delivering enhanced health care services and information to parties separated by distance.

Your Committee finds that this measure will provide enhanced and improved medical services by making medical expertise not available locally more affordable and more accessible to patients.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.