CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 17

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    S.B. No. 984

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 984, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION PHYSICIAN,"

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 amend the definition of "physician" under the workers' compensation law to include an advanced practice registered nurse.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that section 323-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires each hospital within the State to allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice within the full scope of their practice, including as primary care providers.  Your Committee on Conference also finds that advanced practice registered nurses are recognized as participating primary health care providers for insurance purposes under the State's insurance code.  However, Hawaii's workers' compensation law omits advanced practice registered nurses from the definition of physician.  Amending this definition is necessary to authorize increased participation by advanced practice registered nurses and recognize appropriately trained advanced practice registered nurses as primary care providers under workers' compensation to enable improved access to health care services, expedite the processing of paperwork, and provide optimal care at the initial point of access for injured workers, especially in rural and underserved areas.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

     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 S.B. No. 984, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 984, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DANIEL HOLT Co-Chair	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Chair
____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair