STAND. COM. REP. NO.  959

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 235

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 235, 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:

     (1)  Increase the authorized benefit of acupuncture treatments provided through motor vehicle insurance from $75 per visit to no more than $105.70 per visit for no more than 30 visits; and

     (2)  Cap the total amount of benefits allowed for acupuncture, chiropractic, and naturopathic treatments to no more than $2,250.

The Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Hawaii Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Association, Hawaii Association for Justice, and many individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company opposed this measure.  An individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair