Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish conditions for reimbursement of telehealth services.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Health (with recommended changes), the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that over the past eight years, the telehealth statute has aided health care providers to serve people statewide through direct interaction and consultation, but that updating is required to ensure that a broadened scope of telehealth activities will be covered for reimbursement.

Your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of consistency with existing statutory language.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2227, S.D. 2.