STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1203

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 307

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 307, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a licensure program, administered by the Office of Health Care Assurance, for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and related supplies.

The Board of Pharmacy, The Queen's Health Systems, and Healthcare Association of Hawaii testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii Association of Health Plans testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Health provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that questions were raised regarding whether a sunrise study would be needed for the proposed Durable Medical Equipment Supplier Licensing and Patient Protection Program, because the Program creates new licensing requirements.  Your Committee has been informed that because the new licensure requirement is not for vocational licensing, a sunrise study is not needed.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the findings and declaration section from the Hawaii Revised Statutes Part that establishes the Durable Medical Equipment Supplier Licensing and Patient Protection Program;

     (2)  Requiring that the Office of Health Care Assurance submit a report prior to the 2016 Regular Session, on the status and effectiveness of the Durable Medical Equipment Supplier Licensing and Patient Protection Program; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 307, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 307, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair