STAND. COM. REP. NO. 92-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1575

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1575 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Broaden the scope of practice for physician assistants; and

(2) Streamline the medical records review process for physician assistants by requiring a sampling of medical records, rather than all medical records, to be reviewed when prescribing controlled substances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Academy of Physician Assistants, The Queen's Health Systems, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that physician assistants are highly trained health care professionals authorized to serve as primary care providers. Broadening the scope of practice for physician assistants can therefore help address the State's shortage of licensed physicians. Your Committee further finds that requiring a review of a sample, rather than all, medical records that contain written orders or prescriptions for controlled substances will alleviate a burdensome administrative requirement by a supervising physician. This measure lowers restrictions on physician assistants practice and decreases physician administrative burden while ensuring timely quality health care for Hawaii residents in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing physician assistants to sign orders for occupational therapy and plans of care;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1575, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1575, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair