STAND. COM. REP. NO. 146

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 279

       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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 279 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify the workers' compensation law to authorize the physician or surgeon treating an injured employee to conduct diagnostic testing or engage in a one-time consultation for a subspecialty diagnostic evaluation and treatment recommendations from a board certified or licensed specialist, all of which shall not be subject to contest by an insurer or employer.  The intent of this measure is to help streamline a patient's quality of care.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Puna Community Medical Center.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Insurers Council.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

     Your Committee finds that, based on testimony received, additional discussion is necessary to facilitate the intent of this measure.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the merits of this measure.

     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 S.B. No. 279, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 279, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair