STAND. COM. REP. NO.  908-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.C.R. No. 16

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 16 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF TELEDENTISTRY FOR THE VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, SUCH AS ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE AND COST EFFICIENCIES, AND TO IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS TO THE PRACTICE OF TELEDENTISTRY IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve access to dental care, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations, by requesting the Department of Health to:

(1)  Establish a task force to study the potential benefits of teledentistry for vulnerable and underserved populations; and

(2)  Identify barriers to the practice of teledentistry.

The Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Hawaii Primary Care Association supported this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style, including amending its title to read:

"REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF TELEDENTISTRY FOR VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THE STATE AND TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO THE PRACTICE OF TELEDENTISTRY IN THE STATE."

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 16, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 16, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair