STAND. COM. REP. NO.  96

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 473

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 473 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEHEALTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the establishment of a physician-patient relationship via a telehealth appointment if the physician is licensed in the State.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Medical Board, Together For Our Keiki, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Adventist Health Castle, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Association, Prime Care Services Hawaii, and three individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has caused a major shift in how patients receive care.  Many patients are hesitant to make in-person visits and residents of rural areas may have more limited options on how to access care.  Your Committees further find that the use of telehealth to diagnose and treat patients has seen a significant increase due to the pandemic.  Telehealth provides a safe and easy way for patients to continue seeing their healthcare providers.  Your Committees believe that having the flexibility to establish a physician-patient relationship through telehealth will increase access to care for residents in the State.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 473, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 473, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

 

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair