HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

89

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE 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.

 

 

WHEREAS, naturopathic physicians have been statutorily recognized as health care providers in good standing in Hawaii for 76 years; and

WHEREAS, naturopathic physicians, along with their complementary alternative medicine (CAM) colleagues, chiropractors and acupuncturists, have achieved major levels of prominence, nationally and locally; and

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health set aside $300 million for CAM research, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine's four-year strategic plan included the establishment of a Department of Complementary Alternative Medicine, and the Maui Memorial Medical Center added an Allied Health component to its operations; and

WHEREAS, as a general category care providers, complementary alternative medicine providers other than chiropractors were removed from the personal injury protection (PIP) benefits in motor vehicle insurance in 1997; and

WHEREAS, with the institution of certain coverage restrictions, acupuncture treatments have long since been reinstated in the motor vehicle PIP statute, but naturopathic treatment has not; and

WHEREAS, naturopathic physicians are seeking equal consideration in being reinstated in the motor vehicle insurance PIP statute; and

WHEREAS, those who oppose this reinstatement raise concerns that such action will increase utilization and consequently, result in objectionable insurance rate increases; and

WHEREAS, despite such assertions, no supportive actuarial data have been presented at legislative hearings on this issue; and

WHEREAS, naturopathic physicians are not seeking authorization for an increase in the number of allowed CAM treatments but merely inclusion in the existing, statutorily restricted 30 total CAM provider visits pool; and

WHEREAS, naturopathic physicians contend that, even with their inclusion, utilization could still never increase beyond the current, statutory 30-visit limit; and

WHEREAS, in the absence of an unbiased actuarial assessment, it is difficult for the Legislature to ascertain whether the reinstatement of naturopathic physicians in the motor vehicle insurance PIP statute would have either a negligible or prohibitive impact on utilization and insurance rates; and

WHEREAS, even while recognizing the notable, positive benefits of naturopathy, the Legislature, because no objective actuarial analysis is presently available, has thus far understandably deemed it prudent to act on the side of caution and refrain from restoring naturopathic treatment as a PIP benefit; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the State Insurance Commissioner is requested to perform an actuarial analysis of the utilization and rate impacts, if any, of reinstating naturopathy among the personal injury protection benefits in motor vehicle insurance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Insurance Commissioner submit to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003, a report of findings and recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the State Insurance Commissioner, the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians and the Hawaii Insurers Council.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

NATUROPATHY