STAND. COM. REP. NO.  547-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2233

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2233 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure, as received by your Committee, is to require health care licensees to take an annual continuing medical education course on health issues that are unique to the State, and to require the Department of Health to develop the course in consultation with the Hawaii Medical Board.

The Council Member of Hawaii County Council, District 8, testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, and an individual opposed this measure.

     Your Committee notes that one of the gaps in promptly identifying the presence of dengue fever on the Island of Hawaii during the fall of 2015 was the failure of clinicians to promptly report suspected dengue fever cases to the proper reporting agency.  Recognizing the importance of supporting excellence in health care through continuing medical education, as well as recognizing the concerns raised in testimony, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting new language, which requires every physician, osteopathic physician, and surgeon who actively practices in the State to:

(1)  Complete a continuing medical education course that focuses on health issues with significant public health impact to the State; and

(2)  Meet this Hawaii-specific requirement by obtaining credit hours in a continuing medical education course as provided in the Hawaii Medical Board's rules.

This bill also:

(1)  Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to implement the continuing medical education course provisions no later than January 1, 2018; and

(2)  Provides a July 1, 2070, effective date to facilitate further discussion.

     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. 2233, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2233, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair