STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2998

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1880

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1880, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PODIATRISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow podiatric physicians who are board qualified or board certified in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and have completed a thirty-six-month podiatric surgical residency to perform ankle fracture surgery; and

     (2)  Conform the definition of "podiatric medicine" to national standards regarding diagnosis and treatment of the foot and ankle.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board; Hawaii Medical Association; American Podiatric Medical Association; Surgical Associates, Inc.; Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services; and several individuals.

     Your Committee finds that podiatrists have become primary providers of foot and ankle surgery.  Your Committee further finds that due to the physician shortage in Hawaii, many patients on neighbor islands must fly to Oahu to have surgery for ankle fractures.  This measure recognizes the current standard of training and ability of podiatric physicians and helps podiatric physicians to ensure comprehensive care and services for their patients.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making the measure effective upon approval.

     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. 1880, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1880, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair