HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2099

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to advanced practice registered nurses.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that advanced practice registered nurses provide a wide variety of health care services to people in Hawaii.  The legislature further finds that section 323-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires each hospital within the State to allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice within the full scope of the practice, including as primary care providers.  Advanced practice registered nurses are also recognized as participating primary health care providers for insurance purposes under the State's insurance code.

     However, the legislature also finds that certain sections within the Hawaii Revised Statutes omit advanced practice registered nurses from the definitions or designations of health care entities who may provide health care, prescribe drugs, or sign forms.  These outdated or obsolete statutes need to be amended to authorize increased participation by advanced practice registered nurses and recognize appropriately trained advanced practice registered nurses as primary care providers.  Authorizing increased participation by advanced practice registered nurses in certain circumstances, especially with regard to global signature authority, will enable improved access to health care services, expedite the processing of paperwork, and provide optimal care at the initial point of access for Hawaii patients, especially in rural and underserved areas.

     The purpose of this Act is to improve patient access to medical care by clarifying the circumstances under which advanced practice registered nurses may practice their profession to the fullest extent of their training and education.

     SECTION 2.  Section 246-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Any person who is totally disabled, as defined in section 235-1, so long as the person is totally disabled, shall be exempt from real property taxes on all real property owned by the person up to, but not exceeding, a taxable value of $15,000.  The disability shall be certified to by a physician or osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 453 [or 460, or both,] or by an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 457, on forms prescribed by the department of taxation."

     SECTION 3.  Section 286-107, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Any person who holds a category (1), (2), or (3) license issued under this part who is unable to appear in person before the examiner of drivers to apply for a renewal of the driver's license, may, if the person is not disqualified from renewing the license under subsection (a) except as provided under subsection (h), apply for a renewal by mail.  The applicant's request to have the license renewed by mail must be received by the examiner of drivers within ninety days after the expiration of the license or it shall be treated as an application for reactivation of an expired license under section 286-107.5.  The examiner of drivers shall, upon receipt of the request, furnish the applicant with all necessary forms and instructions.  An application for renewal made pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by a statement from a licensed physician [or], physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse certifying that the applicant was examined by the licensed physician [or], physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse not more than six months prior to the expiration date of the applicant's license and that the applicant was found by the examination to have met the physical requirements established by the state director of transportation for the renewal of licenses.  The application for renewal shall also be accompanied by:

     (1)  A notarized statement of the applicant certifying that the applicant does not possess any valid license to operate the same or similar category or categories of motor vehicles, issued by another licensing authority (unless the license is concurrently surrendered); and

     (2)  Such other information as may be required by the examiner of drivers that is reasonably necessary to confirm the identity of the applicant and the applicant's fitness to continue to operate a motor vehicle."

     SECTION 4.  Section 291-11.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  No person shall be guilty of violating this section if:

     (1)  The person is in a motor vehicle [which] that is not required to be equipped with a seat belt assembly under any federal motor vehicle safety standard unless the vehicle is in fact equipped with a seat belt assembly;

     (2)  The person not restrained by a seat belt assembly is in a vehicle in which the number of persons exceeds the number of seat belt assemblies available in the vehicle or the number of seat belt assemblies originally installed in the vehicle, whichever is greater; provided that all available seat belt assemblies are being used to restrain passengers;

     (3)  The person not restrained by a seat belt assembly has a condition [which] that prevents appropriate restraint by the seat belt assembly; provided the condition is duly certified by a physician [or], a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse who shall state the nature of the condition, as well as the reason the restraint is inappropriate;

     (4)  The person not restrained by a seat belt assembly is operating a taxicab or other motor vehicle used in performing a bona fide metered taxicab service which is regulated under chapter 269 or by county ordinance and is carrying passengers in the vehicle in the course of performing taxicab services; or

     (5)  Otherwise exempted by rules adopted by the department of transportation pursuant to chapter 91."

     SECTION 5.  Section 291-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "certificate of disability" to read as follows:

     ""Certificate of disability" means a medical statement issued by a licensed practicing physician[,] or advanced practice registered nurse which verifies that a person is disabled, limited, or impaired in the ability to walk."

     SECTION 6.  Section 291-51.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§291-51.4[]]  Fraudulent verification of an applicant as a person with a disability; penalty.  A physician or advanced practice registered nurse who fraudulently verifies that an applicant is a person with a disability to enable the person to represent to the issuing agency that the person is qualified to obtain a removable windshield placard, temporary removable windshield placard, or special license plates shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.  Each fraudulent verification shall constitute a separate offense."

     SECTION 7.  Section 302A-1156, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-1156  Exemptions.  A child may be exempted from the required immunizations:

     (1)  If a licensed physician [or], physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse certifies that the physical condition of the child is such that immunizations would endanger the child's life or health; or

     (2)  If any parent, custodian, guardian, or any other person in loco parentis to a child objects to immunization in writing on the grounds that the immunization conflicts with that person's bona fide religious tenets and practices.  Upon showing the appropriate school official satisfactory evidence of the exemption, no certificate or other evidence of immunization shall be required for entry into school."

     SECTION 8.  Section 325-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§325-34  Exemptions.  Section 325-32 shall be construed not to require the vaccination or immunization of any person for three months after a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or an authorized representative of the department of health has signed two copies of a certificate stating the name and address of the person and that because of a stated cause the health of the person would be endangered by the vaccination or immunization, and has forwarded the original copy of the certificate to the person or, if the person is a minor or under guardianship, to the person's parent or guardian, and has forwarded the duplicate copy of the certificate to the department for its files.

     No person shall be subjected to vaccination, revaccination or immunization, who shall in writing object thereto on the grounds that the requirements are not in accordance with the religious tenets of an established church of which the person is a member or adherent, or, if the person is a minor or under guardianship, whose parent or guardian shall in writing object thereto on such grounds, but no objection shall be recognized when, in the opinion of the director of health, there is danger of an epidemic from any communicable disease."

     SECTION 9.  Section 347-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Every disabled person shall have the right to use a life jacket or other flotation device in a public swimming pool; provided that:

     (1)  The person suffers from a physical disability or condition that requires the use of a life jacket or other flotation device; and

     (2)  The person obtains a statement signed by a licensed physician [or], physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse attesting to the person's need to use a life jacket or other flotation device."

     SECTION 10.  Section 431:10H-217, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§431:10H-217[]]  Disclosure; benefit triggers.  Activities of daily living and cognitive impairment shall be used to measure an insured's need for long-term care and shall be described in the policy or certificate in a separate paragraph and shall be labeled "Eligibility for the Payment of Benefits".  Any additional benefit triggers shall also be explained in this section.  If these benefit triggers differ for different benefits, explanation of the trigger shall accompany each benefit description.  If an attending physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or other specified person [must] is required to certify a certain level of functional dependency in order to be eligible for benefits, this [too] requirement shall be specified."

     SECTION 11.  Section 431:13-103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The following are defined as unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance:

     (1)  Misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance policies.  Making, issuing, circulating, or causing to be made, issued, or circulated, any estimate, illustration, circular, statement, sales presentation, omission, or comparison which:

         (A)  Misrepresents the benefits, advantages, conditions, or terms of any insurance policy;

         (B)  Misrepresents the dividends or share of the surplus to be received on any insurance policy;

          (C)  Makes any false or misleading statement as to the dividends or share of surplus previously paid on any insurance policy;

         (D)  Is misleading or is a misrepresentation as to the financial condition of any insurer, or as to the legal reserve system upon which any life insurer operates;

         (E)  Uses any name or title of any insurance policy or class of insurance policies misrepresenting the true nature thereof;

         (F)  Is a misrepresentation for the purpose of inducing or tending to induce the lapse, forfeiture, exchange, conversion, or surrender of any insurance policy;

         (G)  Is a misrepresentation for the purpose of effecting a pledge or assignment of or effecting a loan against any insurance policy;

         (H)  Misrepresents any insurance policy as being shares of stock;

         (I)  Publishes or advertises the assets of any insurer without publishing or advertising with equal conspicuousness the liabilities of the insurer, both as shown by its last annual statement; or

         (J)  Publishes or advertises the capital of any insurer without stating specifically the amount of paid-in and subscribed capital;

     (2)  False information and advertising generally.  Making, publishing, disseminating, circulating, or placing before the public, or causing, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio or television station, or in any other way, an advertisement, announcement, or statement containing any assertion, representation, or statement with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person in the conduct of the person's insurance business, which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading;

     (3)  Defamation.  Making, publishing, disseminating, or circulating, directly or indirectly, or aiding, abetting, or encouraging the making, publishing, disseminating, or circulating of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article, or literature which is false, or maliciously critical of or derogatory to the financial condition of an insurer, and which is calculated to injure any person engaged in the business of insurance;

     (4)  Boycott, coercion, and intimidation.

         (A)  Entering into any agreement to commit, or by any action committing, any act of boycott, coercion, or intimidation resulting in or tending to result in unreasonable restraint of, or monopoly in, the business of insurance; or

         (B)  Entering into any agreement on the condition, agreement, or understanding that a policy will not be issued or renewed unless the prospective insured contracts for another class or an additional policy of the same class of insurance with the same insurer;

     (5)  False financial statements.

         (A)  Knowingly filing with any supervisory or other public official, or knowingly making, publishing, disseminating, circulating, or delivering to any person, or placing before the public, or knowingly causing, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, delivered to any person, or placed before the public, any false statement of a material fact as to the financial condition of an insurer; or

         (B)  Knowingly making any false entry of a material fact in any book, report, or statement of any insurer with intent to deceive any agent or examiner lawfully appointed to examine into its condition or into any of its affairs, or any public official to whom the insurer is required by law to report, or who has authority by law to examine into its condition or into any of its affairs, or, with like intent, knowingly omitting to make a true entry of any material fact pertaining to the business of the insurer in any book, report, or statement of the insurer;

     (6)  Stock operations and advisory board contracts.  Issuing or delivering or permitting agents, officers, or employees to issue or deliver, agency company stock or other capital stock, or benefit certificates or shares in any common-law corporation, or securities or any special or advisory board contracts or other contracts of any kind promising returns and profits as an inducement to insurance;

     (7)  Unfair discrimination.

         (A)  Making or permitting any unfair discrimination between individuals of the same class and equal expectation of life in the rates charged for any policy of life insurance or annuity contract or in the dividends or other benefits payable thereon, or in any other of the terms and conditions of the contract;

         (B)  Making or permitting any unfair discrimination in favor of particular individuals or persons, or between insureds or subjects of insurance having substantially like insuring, risk, and exposure factors, or expense elements, in the terms or conditions of any insurance contract, or in the rate or amount of premium charge therefor, or in the benefits payable or in any other rights or privilege accruing thereunder;

         (C)  Making or permitting any unfair discrimination between individuals or risks of the same class and of essentially the same hazards by refusing to issue, refusing to renew, canceling, or limiting the amount of insurance coverage on a property or casualty risk because of the geographic location of the risk, unless:

              (i)  The refusal, cancellation, or limitation is for a business purpose which is not a mere pretext for unfair discrimination; or

             (ii)  The refusal, cancellation, or limitation is required by law or regulatory mandate;

         (D)  Making or permitting any unfair discrimination between individuals or risks of the same class and of essentially the same hazards by refusing to issue, refusing to renew, canceling, or limiting the amount of insurance coverage on a residential property risk, or the personal property contained therein, because of the age of the residential property, unless:

              (i)  The refusal, cancellation, or limitation is for a business purpose which is not a mere pretext for unfair discrimination; or

             (ii)  The refusal, cancellation, or limitation is required by law or regulatory mandate;

         (E)  Refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, or limiting the amount of coverage available to an individual because of the sex or marital status of the individual; however, nothing in this subsection shall prohibit an insurer from taking marital status into account for the purpose of defining persons eligible for dependent benefits;

         (F)  Terminating or modifying coverage, or refusing to issue or renew any property or casualty policy or contract of insurance solely because the applicant or insured or any employee of either is mentally or physically impaired; provided that this subparagraph shall not apply to accident and health or sickness insurance sold by a casualty insurer; provided further that this subparagraph shall not be interpreted to modify any other provision of law relating to the termination, modification, issuance, or renewal of any insurance policy or contract;

         (G)  Refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, or limiting the amount of coverage available to an individual based solely upon the individual's having taken a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test prior to applying for insurance; or

         (H)  Refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, or limiting the amount of coverage available to an individual because the individual refuses to consent to the release of information which is confidential as provided in section 325-101; provided that nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit an insurer from obtaining and using the results of a test satisfying the requirements of the commissioner, which was taken with the consent of an applicant for insurance; provided further that any applicant for insurance who is tested for HIV infection shall be afforded the opportunity to obtain the test results, within a reasonable time after being tested, and that the confidentiality of the test results shall be maintained as provided by section 325‑101;

     (8)  Rebates.  Except as otherwise expressly provided by law:

         (A)  Knowingly permitting or offering to make or making any contract of insurance, or agreement as to the contract other than as plainly expressed in the contract, or paying or allowing, or giving or offering to pay, allow, or give, directly or indirectly, as inducement to the insurance, any rebate of premiums payable on the contract, or any special favor or advantage in the dividends or other benefits, or any valuable consideration or inducement not specified in the contract; or

         (B)  Giving, selling, or purchasing, or offering to give, sell, or purchase as inducement to the insurance or in connection therewith, any stocks, bonds, or other securities of any insurance company or other corporation, association, or partnership, or any dividends or profits accrued thereon, or anything of value not specified in the contract;

     (9)  Nothing in paragraph (7) or (8) shall be construed as including within the definition of discrimination or rebates any of the following practices:

         (A)  In the case of any life insurance policy or annuity contract, paying bonuses to policyholders or otherwise abating their premiums in whole or in part out of surplus accumulated from nonparticipating insurance; provided that any bonus or abatement of premiums shall be fair and equitable to policyholders and in the best interests of the insurer and its policyholders;

         (B)  In the case of life insurance policies issued on the industrial debit plan, making allowance to policyholders who have continuously for a specified period made premium payments directly to an office of the insurer in an amount which fairly represents the saving in collection expense;

         (C)  Readjustment of the rate of premium for a group insurance policy based on the loss or expense experience thereunder, at the end of the first or any subsequent policy year of insurance thereunder, which may be made retroactive only for the policy year; and

         (D)  In the case of any contract of insurance, the distribution of savings, earnings, or surplus equitably among a class of policyholders, all in accordance with this article;

    (10)  Refusing to provide or limiting coverage available to an individual because the individual may have a third-party claim for recovery of damages; provided that:

         (A)  Where damages are recovered by judgment or settlement of a third-party claim, reimbursement of past benefits paid shall be allowed pursuant to section 663-10;

         (B)  This paragraph shall not apply to entities licensed under chapter 386 or 431:10C; and

         (C)  For entities licensed under chapter 432 or 432D:

              (i)  It shall not be a violation of this section to refuse to provide or limit coverage available to an individual because the entity determines that the individual reasonably appears to have coverage available under chapter 386 or 431:10C; and

             (ii)  Payment of claims to an individual who may have a third-party claim for recovery of damages may be conditioned upon the individual first signing and submitting to the entity documents to secure the lien and reimbursement rights of the entity and providing information reasonably related to the entity's investigation of its liability for coverage.

              Any individual who knows or reasonably should know that the individual may have a third-party claim for recovery of damages and who fails to provide timely notice of the potential claim to the entity, shall be deemed to have waived the prohibition of this paragraph against refusal or limitation of coverage.  "Third-party claim" for purposes of this paragraph means any tort claim for monetary recovery or damages that the individual has against any person, entity, or insurer, other than the entity licensed under chapter 432 or 432D;

    (11)  Unfair claim settlement practices.  Committing or performing with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice any of the following:

         (A)  Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverages at issue;

         (B)  With respect to claims arising under its policies, failing to respond with reasonable promptness, in no case more than fifteen working days, to communications received from:

              (i)  The insurer's policyholder;

             (ii)  Any other persons, including the commissioner; or

            (iii)  The insurer of a person involved in an incident in which the insurer's policyholder is also involved.

              The response shall be more than an acknowledgment that such person's communication has been received, and shall adequately address the concerns stated in the communication;

         (C)  Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims arising under insurance policies;

         (D)  Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation based upon all available information;

         (E)  Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements have been completed;

         (F)  Failing to offer payment within thirty calendar days of affirmation of liability, if the amount of the claim has been determined and is not in dispute;

         (G)  Failing to provide the insured, or when applicable the insured's beneficiary, with a reasonable written explanation for any delay, on every claim remaining unresolved for thirty calendar days from the date it was reported;

         (H)  Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear;

         (I)  Compelling insureds to institute litigation to recover amounts due under an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in actions brought by the insureds;

         (J)  Attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed the person was entitled by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application;

         (K)  Attempting to settle claims on the basis of an application which was altered without notice, knowledge, or consent of the insured;

         (L)  Making claims payments to insureds or beneficiaries not accompanied by a statement setting forth the coverage under which the payments are being made;

         (M)  Making known to insureds or claimants a policy of appealing from arbitration awards in favor of insureds or claimants for the purpose of compelling them to accept settlements or compromises less than the amount awarded in arbitration;

         (N)  Delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring an insured, claimant, or the physician or advanced practice registered nurse of either to submit a preliminary claim report and then requiring the subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, both of which submissions contain substantially the same information;

         (O)  Failing to promptly settle claims, where liability has become reasonably clear, under one portion of the insurance policy coverage to influence settlements under other portions of the insurance policy coverage;

         (P)  Failing to promptly provide a reasonable explanation of the basis in the insurance policy in relation to the facts or applicable law for denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromise settlement; and

         (Q)  Indicating to the insured on any payment draft, check, or in any accompanying letter that the payment is "final" or is "a release" of any claim if additional benefits relating to the claim are probable under coverages afforded by the policy; unless the policy limit has been paid or there is a bona fide dispute over either the coverage or the amount payable under the policy;

    (12)  Failure to maintain complaint handling procedures.  Failure of any insurer to maintain a complete record of all the complaints which it has received since the date of its last examination under section 431:2-302.  This record shall indicate the total number of complaints, their classification by line of insurance, the nature of each complaint, the disposition of these complaints, and the time it took to process each complaint.  For purposes of this section, "complaint" means any written communication primarily expressing a grievance;

    (13)  Misrepresentation in insurance applications.  Making false or fraudulent statements or representations on or relative to an application for an insurance policy, for the purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, money, or other benefit from any insurer, producer, or individual; and

    (14)  Failure to obtain information.  Failure of any insurance producer, or an insurer where no producer is involved, to comply with section 431:10D-623(a), (b), or (c) by making reasonable efforts to obtain information about a consumer before making a recommendation to the consumer to purchase or exchange an annuity."

     SECTION 12.  Section 432E-36, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (b) to read:

     "(b)  An enrollee or the enrollee's appointed representative may make an oral request for an expedited external review of the adverse action if the enrollee's treating physician or advanced practice registered nurse certifies, in writing, that the health care service or treatment that is the subject of the request would be significantly less effective if not promptly initiated.  A written request for an expedited external review pursuant to this subsection shall include, and oral request shall be promptly followed by, a certification signed by the enrollee's treating physician or treating advanced practice registered nurse and the authorization for release and disclosures required by section 432E-33.  Upon receipt of all items required by this subsection, the commissioner shall immediately notify the health carrier."

     2.  By amending subsection (g) to read:

     "(g)  Except for a request for an expedited external review made pursuant to subsection (b), within three business days after the date of receipt of the request, the commissioner shall notify the health carrier that the enrollee has requested an expedited external review pursuant to this section.  Within five business days following the date of receipt of notice, the health carrier shall determine whether:

     (1)  The individual is or was an enrollee in the health benefit plan at the time the health care service or treatment was recommended or requested or, in the case of a retrospective review, was an enrollee in the health benefit plan at the time the health care service or treatment was provided;

     (2)  The recommended or requested health care service or treatment that is the subject of the adverse action:

         (A)  Would be a covered benefit under the enrollee's health benefit plan but for the health carrier's determination that the service or treatment is experimental or investigational for the enrollee's particular medical condition; and

         (B)  Is not explicitly listed as an excluded benefit under the enrollee's health benefit plan;

     (3)  The enrollee's treating physician or treating advanced practice registered nurse has certified in writing that:

         (A)  Standard health care services or treatments have not been effective in improving the condition of the enrollee;

         (B)  Standard health care services or treatments are not medically appropriate for the enrollee; or

         (C)  There is no available standard health care service or treatment covered by the health carrier that is more beneficial than the health care service or treatment that is the subject of the adverse action;

     (4)  The enrollee's treating physician[:] or treating advanced practice registered nurse:

         (A)  Has recommended a health care service or treatment that the physician or advanced practice registered nurse certifies, in writing, is likely to be more beneficial to the enrollee, in the physician's or advanced practice registered nurse's opinion, than any available standard health care services or treatments; or

         (B)  Who is a licensed, board certified or board eligible physician qualified to practice in the area of medicine appropriate to treat the enrollee's condition, has certified in writing that scientifically valid studies using accepted protocols demonstrate that the health care service or treatment that is the subject of the adverse action is likely to be more beneficial to the enrollee than any available standard health care services or treatments;

     (5)  The enrollee has exhausted the health carrier's internal appeals process or the enrollee is not required to exhaust the health carrier's internal appeals process pursuant to section 432E-33(b); and

     (6)  The enrollee has provided all the information and forms required by the commissioner that are necessary to process an external review, including the release form and disclosure of conflict of interest information as provided under section 432E-5."

     SECTION 13.  Section 435E-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§435E-41  Unfair methods of competition and deceptive acts or practices.  The following are unfair methods of competition and deceptive acts or practices with respect to cooperative corporations or interindemnity arrangements under this chapter:

     (1)  Making any false or misleading statement as to, or issuing, circulating, or causing to be made, issued, or circulated, any estimate, illustration, circular, or statement misrepresenting the terms of any interindemnity arrangement or the benefits or advantages promised thereby, or making any misleading representation or any misrepresentation as to the financial condition of an interindemnity arrangement, or making any misrepresentation to any participating member for the purpose of inducing or tending to induce the member to lapse, forfeit, or surrender his or her rights to indemnification under the interindemnity arrangement.  It shall be a false or misleading statement to state or represent that a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement is or constitutes "insurance" or an "insurance company" or an "insurance policy".

     (2)  Making or disseminating or causing to be made or disseminated before the public in this State, in any newspaper or other publication, or any advertising device, or by public outcry or proclamation, or in any other manner or means whatsoever, any statement containing any assertion, representation, or statement with respect to such cooperative corporations or interindemnity arrangements, or with respect to any person in the conduct of such cooperative corporations or interindemnity arrangements, which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading, and which is known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue, deceptive, or misleading.  It shall be a false or misleading statement to state or represent that a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement is or constitutes "insurance" or an "insurance company" or an "insurance policy".

     (3)  Entering into any agreement to commit, or by any concerted action committing, any act of boycott, coercion, or intimidation resulting in or tending to result in an unreasonable restraint of, or monopoly in, such cooperative corporations or interindemnity arrangements.

     (4)  Filing with any supervisory or other public official, or making, publishing, disseminating, circulating, or delivering to any person, or placing before the public, or causing directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or delivered to any person, or placed before the public any false statement of financial conditions of such a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement with intent to deceive.

     (5)  Making any false entry in any book, report, or statement of such a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement with intent to deceive any agent or examiner lawfully appointed to examine into its condition or into any of its affairs, or any public official to whom such a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement is required by law to report or who has authority by law to examine into its conditions or into any of its affairs, or, with like intent, wilfully omitting to make a true entry of any material fact pertaining to a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement in any book, report, or statement of a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement.

     (6)  Making or disseminating, or causing to be made or disseminated, before the public in this State, in any newspaper or other publication, or any other advertising device, or by public outcry or proclamation, or in any other manner or means whatever, whether directly or by implication, any statement that such a cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement is insured against insolvency, or otherwise protected by law.

     (7)  Knowingly committing or performing with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice any of the following unfair claims settlement practices:

         (A)  Misrepresenting to claimants pertinent facts or provisions relating to any coverage at issue.

         (B)  Failing to acknowledge and act promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under such interindemnity arrangements.

         (C)  Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation and processing of claims arising under such interindemnity arrangement.

         (D)  Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of claim requirements have been completed and submitted by the participating member.

         (E)  Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear.

         (F)  Compelling participating members to institute litigation to recover amounts due under an interindemnity arrangement by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in actions brought by such participating members when such participating members have made claims under such interindemnity arrangements for amounts reasonably similar to the amounts ultimately recovered.

         (G)  Attempting to settle a claim by a participating member for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed he or she was entitled by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application for membership in such an interindemnity arrangement.

         (H)  Attempting to settle claims on the basis of an interindemnity arrangement which was altered without notice to the participating member.

         (I)  Failing, after payment of a claim, to inform participating members, upon request by them, of the coverage under which payment has been made.

         (J)  Making known to claimants a practice of such cooperative corporation or interindemnity arrangement of appealing from arbitration awards in favor of claimants for the purpose of compelling them to accept settlements or compromises less than the amount awarded in arbitration.

         (K)  Delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring a claimant, or [his or her] the claimant's physician[,] or advanced practice registered nurse, to submit a preliminary claim report, and then requiring the subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, both of which submissions contain substantially the same information.

         (L)  Failing to settle claims promptly, where liability has become apparent, under one portion of an interindemnity arrangement in order to influence settlements under other portions of the interindemnity arrangement.

         (M)  Failing to provide promptly a reasonable explanation of the basis relied on in the interindemnity arrangement, in relation to the facts of applicable law, or the denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromise settlement.

         (N)  Directly advising a claimant not to obtain the services of an attorney.

         (O)  Misleading a claimant as to the applicable statute of limitations."

     SECTION 14.  Section 457-8.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§457-8.8  Advanced practice registered nurses; global signature authority.[]  (a)]  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, advanced practice registered nurses shall be authorized to sign, certify, or endorse all documents relating to health care within their scope of practice provided for their patients, including workers' compensation verification documents, verification and evaluation forms of the department of human services and department of education, verification and authorization forms of the department of health, and physical examination forms; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to expand the scope of practice of advanced practice registered nurses.

     [(b)  This section shall not apply to a certificate of disability that may be used to obtain parking privileges for disabled persons pursuant to part III of chapter 291.]"

     SECTION 15.  Section 612-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  A prospective juror is disqualified to serve as a juror if the prospective juror:

     (1)  Is incapable, by reason of the prospective juror's disability, of rendering satisfactory jury service; but a prospective juror claiming this disqualification may be required to submit a physician's [or], physician assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's certificate as to the disability, and the certifying physician [or], physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse is subject to inquiry by the court at its discretion;

     (2)  Has been convicted of a felony in a state or federal court and not pardoned; or

     (3)  Fails to meet the qualifications in subsection (a)."

     SECTION 16.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 17.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 18.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse; Scope of Practice

 

Description:

Amends various sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to enable advanced practice registered nurses to practice to the fullest extent of their training and education.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.