STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1868

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1674

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1674, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage the development of telemedicine in the state by allowing a medical practitioner in radiology who is licensed to practice in another state to provide radiology services by telemedicine while in Hawaii to a patient who is located within the state in which the medical practitioner is licensed to practice.

     The Department of Health and Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., testified in support of this bill.  Virtual Radiologic Corporation supported this measure with amendments.  The Board of Medical Examiners provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Clarifying that the Act does not allow radiologists without a license to practice medicine in Hawaii, wherever they may be located, to provide services to a patient located in Hawaii;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style,

          clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1674, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1674, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair