STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1138-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   S.B. No. 2491

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2491, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEMEDICINE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure greater access to health care by:

     (1)  Providing that telemedicine may be included within the defined scope of the practice of medicine; and

     (2)  Requiring insurers offering medical malpractice insurance coverage to also cover telemedicine services.

     The American Cancer Society and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association supported this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association and The Doctors Company opposed this bill.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2491, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary,

____________________________ JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair