STAND. COM. REP. NO.  189-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2017

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2017 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve the efficiency of Hawaii's workers' compensation system by allowing physicians to transmit an injured employee's treatment plan to an employer via facsimile, e-mail, or other internet communication.

 

     The Hawaii Injured Workers Association, Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants, Automated HealthCare Solutions, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu and National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Human Resources Development, and Hawaii Insurers Council provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that concerns were raised in testimony on whether the seven-day denial period allows an employer adequate time to properly and comprehensively analyze a proposed treatment plan.  Given the balance needed to ensure timely communication while maintaining appropriate acceptance or denial of proposed treatment plans, should the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests further examination on what may constitute a more feasible deadline.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2017 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair