STAND. COM. REP. NO. 996

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 23

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 23 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR CHRONIC PAIN THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A BOARD-CERTIFIED SURGEON,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to provide coverage for physical therapy that is prescribed by a board-certified surgeon to treat chronic pain.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the American Cancer Society.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.

     Your Committee finds that physical therapy is often an essential component of comprehensive personal health care.  Your Committee further finds that physical therapy can help to relieve symptoms of many diseases and conditions thereby improving a patient's physical and mental well-being.  Finally, your Committee finds that physical therapists function as part of a team of physicians and other providers to treat chronic or severe pain by strengthening muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending its title to accurately reflect the contents of this measure; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 23, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 23, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair