STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2941

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2424

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2424 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the definition of the practice of medicine to provide uniformity of practice for both medical and osteopathic physicians.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board and the Hawaii Medical Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that the definition of "practice of medicine" was amended in 2008 by adding a separate, distinct definition of "osteopathic medicine". Because medical doctors and osteopathic doctors receive the same training, this distinction is not necessary. Eliminating this distinction will further help foster consistency in enforcement for these professions. Additionally, the definition of "practice of medicine" should be updated because the practice of medicine not only includes the treatment of disease, as the current definition provides, but also includes additional services that are now commonplace in the practice of modern medicine. Accordingly, this measure expands the scope of practice of medicine beyond merely treating disease and provides tangible grounds for evaluating physician compliance with existing licensure laws.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2424, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2424, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair