STAND. COM. REP. NO. 181

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 935

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 935 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the State's shortage of healthcare providers by:

(1) Clarifying the scope and practice of physician assistants (PAs) in the State and making conforming amendments; and

(2) Amending the membership of the Hawaii Medical Board to include two physician assistants and clarifying the powers of the Board.

This measure also expands the bases upon which a physician's or surgeon's license may be suspended or revoked.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants, Gregory House Programs, Hawaii Academy of Physicians Assistants, and numerous individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Hawaii Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, and Hawaii Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons submitted testimony in opposition to the measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Regulated Industries Complaints Office, Hawaii Medical Board, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, and Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i offered comments on this measure.

Your Committees note that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will work with the Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants to clarify the language in this measure. Your Committees also note the testimony of the Hawaii Medical Association that this measure is premature because the approach and logistics of the relationship between physicians and physician assistants under what is known as an "Optimal Team Practice" has not been vetted with the Hawaii Medical Board, the regulatory body for physicians and physician assistants. Finally, your Committees note that the Hawaii Medical Board has not discussed this measure but will review it at the next scheduled public meeting on February 14, 2019.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Permitting physician assistants who have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician to sign certain documents;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 935, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 935, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce,

____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair