STAND. COM. REP. NO.  57

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 808

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 808 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure efficient and appropriate access to health care statewide and to ease the strain on hospital emergency room care for non-emergency illnesses by:

     (1)  Clarifying that telemedicine is in a physician’s scope of practice and is authorized in Hawaii when practiced by a licensed physician providing services to patients; and

     (2)  Further clarifying the current laws regarding telehealth to ensure compliance with changes made to the law regulating the practice of medicine.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Board submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 808 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair