STAND. COM. REP. NO. 225-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 1717

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1717 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to include naturopathy among the required personal injury protection benefits in a motor vehicle insurance policy.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of this bill from the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians, numerous naturopathic physicians, and several patients of naturopathic physicians. Testimony in opposition to the bill was received from the Hawaii Medical Association, State Farm Insurance Companies, and the Hawaii Insurers Council. The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs commented.

Your Committee received testimony from the Insurance Commissioner that this bill's impact on premiums is likely to be minimal.

Your Committee has amended this bill to apply to acupuncture benefits, the same limits that apply to naturopathic and chiropractic benefits under a motor vehicle insurance policy. As amended, the bill:

(1) Limits naturopathic treatments to no more than 30 visits at no more than $75 a visit; and

(2) Provides that the combined total of naturopathic, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments may not exceed 30 visits.

A technical, nonsubstantive amendment was also made for consistency.

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. 1717, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1717, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair