CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 126

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    H.B. No. 235

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to address the coverage of acupuncture treatments provided under motor vehicle insurance.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Clarifies that the authorized benefit for acupuncture treatments allowed under personal injury protection benefits provided through motor vehicle insurance shall be tied to the charges, and subsequent increases in charges, permissible under the Workers' Compensation Supplemental Medical Fee Schedule; and

     (2)  Clarifies that the 30-visit limit for acupuncture treatments allowed under personal injury protection benefits shall be counted separately from the 30-visit limit for naturopathic and chiropractic visits.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Retaining the existing 30-visit limit for naturopathic, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2017; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair	____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair
____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH Co-Chair	____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair
	____________________________ SYLVIA LUKE Co-Chair