STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1583-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2467

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2467, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PODIATRISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the scope of podiatric medicine to authorize qualified podiatric physicians to perform ankle fracture surgery, surgically treat leg muscles and tendons that govern foot function, and amputate any part of a patient's foot below the ankle.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Podiatric Medical Association; Hawaii Medical Association; American Podiatric Medical Association; Maui Medical Group; Surgical Associates, Inc; Aloha Family Footcare, LLC dba Maui Family Footcare; and fourteen individuals.  The Hawaii Medical Board submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that forty-five states currently allow podiatrists to perform ankle surgery.  Additionally, a typical podiatric resident will perform ten times more foot and ankle surgeries than a typical orthopedic surgical resident.  Your Committee finds that expanding the scope of podiatry to include ankle fracture surgery and amending the definition of podiatric medicine to conform to national standards will increase access to medical care without reducing the quality of that care.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2467, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair