STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1503

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 912

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor, Culture and the Arts and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 912, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require an employer to pay for all medical services related to an employee's compensable injury and the employee's rehabilitation within sixty days of receipt of the bill for services; and

(2) Establish a process for employers to dispute the payment of an employee's medical bill.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Injured Workers Association, Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, and three individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Insurers Council. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Human Resources, Hawaiian Electric Company Inc., and Automated HealthCare Solutions.

Your Committees find that ongoing investigations of pending workers' compensation claims and employers not responding to billings delay care and compensation to seriously injured employees. These employees may be forced to return to work with serious injuries, find less suitable employment, or apply for public assistance. This measure requires that employers pay all medical services within sixty days of receiving the bill, which will help to ensure that medical services are timely paid by employers and that employees receive the financial assistance that they need.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor, Culture and the Arts and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 912, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 912, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor, Culture and the Arts and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair