STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1427

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 109

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 109, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A PROPOSAL THAT DELINEATES HOW IT WILL INCREASE THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE TO PROVIDERS OF SERVICE FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to prepare a proposal that delineates how it will increase the reimbursement rate to providers of services for workers' compensation claimants.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, two individuals, and a petition signed by seventy-five individuals.

     The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee understands that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is currently engaged in efforts to update the Workers' Compensation Supplemental Medical Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2018.  Your Committee finds that this measure is complementary to the Department's ongoing effort.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 109, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair