STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2382

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2566

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Labor and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2566 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION BENEFITS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify that under the State's workers' compensation law, a physician or surgeon may conduct diagnostic testing or engage in a one-time consultation for a subspecialty diagnostic evaluation and treatment recommendations from a board certified or licensed specialist.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by five private organizations.  Testimony in opposition of this measure was submitted by two state agencies.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committees find that giving treating physicians the ability to conduct diagnostic testing or engage in a one-time consultation for a subspecialty diagnostic evaluation and treatment recommendations will promote quicker recoveries for injured workers, thus enabling them to return to work.  Your Committees also find that it is recommended that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations clarify in its administrative rules that the one-time consultation shall be within occupational medical guidelines and the referring physician or surgeon shall have no financial interest in the diagnostic testing, the subspecialty diagnostic evaluation, or the licensed specialist's practice.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2566 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Health,

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair