STAND. COM. REP. NO.3482

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.C.R. No. 131

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 131 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO DO AN ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS OF THE UTILIZATION AND RATE IMPACTS, IF ANY, OF REINSTATING NATUROPATHY AMONG THE PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION BENEFITS IN MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request an actuarial analysis of a personal injury protection benefits scheme under the motor vehicle insurance law that includes naturopathy.

The Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians testified in support of this measure. State Farm Insurance Companies opposed the measure.

Currently, naturopathy is not included as a personal injury protection (PIP) benefit under the motor vehicle insurance law, although it was included as a benefit prior to reform of the motor vehicle insurance law in 1997, and even though other alternative treatments, such as chiropractic and acupuncture, are included as PIP benefits.

A measure introduced this session (H.B. No. 2206), proposed to reinstate naturopathy as a PIP benefit. Opponents of the measure argue that it will result in increased utilization rates, and in turn, increased premium rates. The measure's proponents counter that allowing naturopathy as one of the complementary alternative medicine (CAM) treatment options will not affect overall utilization rates since no increase is being sought in the current limit on CAM treatments of thirty visits.

Your Committee finds that in the absence of an impartial, actuarial analysis, the Legislature is unable to determine whether the reinstatement of naturopathy as a PIP benefit will affect utilization and premium rates. Therefore, this measure requests the Insurance Commissioner to conduct such an analysis and to report the Commissioner's findings to the Legislature.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 131, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair