STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1367-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 148

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 148 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII'S HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR FEES CHARGED FOR LETTERS PROVIDED BY A PHYSICIAN AS VERIFICATION OF A PATIENT'S DISABILITY OR OTHER CONDITION FOR WHICH SUBSTANTIATION IS NECESSARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to alleviate the overwhelming financial burdens and assist those who need help without having further hardships placed upon them by urging Hawaii's Health Insurers to provide coverage for fees charged for letters provided by a physician as verification of a patient's disability or other condition for which substantiation is necessary.

     The Disability and Communication Access Board supports this concurrent resolution. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments.

     Your Committee acknowledges that there are many reasons why a person may need a letter from a physician, including workers who seek reasonable accommodation on the job, time off for family medical leave for a serious or life-threatening illness or who are returning to work.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 148 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair