STAND. COM. REP. NO. 733

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 122

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 122, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require coverage of services provided by naturopathic physicians by health insurers, mutual benefit societies, fraternal benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one hundred sixty-two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association; Kenneth T. Nakamura, American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; and fifteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that naturopathic physicians provide a valuable service to their patients and are an important component of comprehensive health care.  Your Committee notes that services of a naturopathic physician are currently included in workers' compensation benefits.  Given the State's shortage of qualified health care providers, naturopathic physicians can play a role in ensuring that more people in the State have access to quality health care.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 122, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 122, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair