STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2872

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2289
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Labor and Environment and Commerce and
Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2289
entitled: 

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to include services rendered
by a physical therapist assistant in the definition of "medical
care", "medical services", or "medical supplies" so as to be
compensable under workers' compensation.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Rehabilitation
Hospital of the Pacific, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii
Chapter American Physical Therapy Association, Kapiolani
Community College Health Science Department, and the Hawaii State
Chiropractic Association.  Testimony in opposition to this
measure was received from Hawaii Employers' Mutual Insurance
Company, Inc., Hawaii Insurers Council, and American Massage
Therapy Association.  Comments were provided by ILWU Local 142.

     Currently, services rendered by a physical therapist
assistant are not reimbursable under workers' compensation.  Your
Committees are in agreement that this measure will provide
patients with better access to treatment and rehabilitative care.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Labor and Environment and Commerce and Consumer

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2872
                                   Page 2


Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are
in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2289 and
recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Labor and
                                   Environment and Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



____________________________       ______________________________
BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair              BOB NAKATA, Chair



____________________________
BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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