STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3849

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1980

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1980, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEPHONIC SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require Medicaid, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to cover services provided through telehealth by way of an interactive telecommunications system; and

(2) Define "interactive telecommunications system" to match the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities, University of Hawai‘i System, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawai‘i Medical Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, The Queen's Health Systems, AARP Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers – Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawai‘i Self Advocacy Advisory Council, and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, Hawai‘i Medical Service Association, and Hawai‘i Association of Health Plans.

Your Committees find that the use and expansion of telehealth services and technology in the State has increased access to and reduced delays in receiving health care, particularly in rural and federally designed health professional shortage areas. Patients with behavioral health issues are especially vulnerable and frequently require immediate attention. The inability of behavioral health and other patients to access the Internet presents an even greater barrier to much needed health care. Your Committees further note that Medicare and Medicaid pay equally for telephonic and telehealth services. This measure recognizes the importance of telephonic services, especially in rural areas, and conforms state laws concerning telehealth to recent Medicaid rule changes permitting audio-only communication technology in certain circumstances for the purposes of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a mental health disorder to a patient at their home.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022, and a repeal date of July 1, 2027; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1980, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1980, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair