STAND. COM. REP. NO.  610-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2152

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2152 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the fee schedule of compensation for medical care, services, and supplies in workers' compensation cases from 110 percent to 130 percent of the Medicare Resource Based Relative Value Scale applicable to Hawaii as prepared by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

 

     International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142; the Hawaii Association for Justice; Hawaii Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association; Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 368; Hawaii Medical Association; Plumbers and Fitters Union, Local 675; Workstar; International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Hawaii; and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the intent of this measure.

 

     The American Insurance Association; Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc.; Maui Electric Company, Ltd.; Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.; Hawaii Insurers Council; GEICO; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; and Property Casualty Insurers Association of America opposed this measure.  The Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc., provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the definition of "medical fee schedule" for motor vehicle insurance purposes in order to prevent a possible unintentional raise in motor vehicle insurance premiums; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2152, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2152, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair