STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1474

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1281

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1281, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEHEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the sunset date of Act 107, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, which allows for the reimbursement of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Human Services; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; University of Hawaiʻi System; Disability and Communication Access Board; State Health Planning and Development Agency; State Council on Mental Health; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; AlohaCare; Alzheimer's Association-Hawaii; AARP Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Mental Health Hui; Hawaii Medical Service Association; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Association of Health Plans.

Your Committee finds that the use and expansion of telehealth services and technology in the State have been recognized as a way to increase access and reduce delays to health care, particularly in rural areas of the State. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth became essential as the health care system and patients adjusted to the new realties, and as a result, the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services authorized, among other changes, reimbursement for audio-only telehealth services.

Your Committee further finds that the State, through the enactment of Act 107, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, aligned state laws regarding reimbursements for telehealth services with the guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, the existing uncertainties surrounding federal health care policies necessitates that any further amendments to the laws regarding reimbursements for telehealth services should be paused until policies are settled. This measure extends the sunset date of Act 107 to give the State the opportunity to adjust to any new federal policies that may be implemented or clarified.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1281, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair