STAND. COM. REP. NO. 862

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 328
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 328, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to add board-certified
psychiatrists who are qualified in addiction psychiatry by the
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, to those included
within the definition of "certified substance abuse staff," who
are authorized to provide mandated substance abuse services under
Chapter 431M, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS).

     Your Committee received testimony supporting this measure
from the Department of Health (DOH), Hawaii Medical Association,
and Hawaii Biodyne, Inc. (HB Inc.)  The Department of Commerce
and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) testified that although Chapter 431M,
HRS, is under the jurisdiction of the Insurance Division, DCCA
generally defers to the DOH on matters relevant to the chapter.
An individual submitted testimony in opposition to the bill as it
read prior to being amended by the Committee on Health.

     DOH stated that the bill, as amended by the Committee on
Health, provides assurance that qualified physicians provide
substance abuse services under Chapter 431M, HRS.


 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 862
                                 Page 2

 
     HB Inc. testified that it had provided HMSA substance abuse
benefits care management for approximately ten years, and that
psychiatrists with a Qualification in Addiction Psychiatry (QAP),
are as qualified to provide substance abuse treatment services as
physicians holding an American Society of Addiction Medicine
certificate who are currently included in the definition of
"certified substance abuse staff."  HB Inc. stated that this bill
would appropriately recognize the qualifications of psychiatrists
with a QAP, and allow them to avoid additional certification
requirements.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 328, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass
Third Reading.

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


                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair