STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1594-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 66

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.C.R. No. 66 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A TELEHEALTH AND TELEPHONIC SERVICES WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEXITIES SURROUNDING THE APPROPRIATE USE OF TELEHEALTH AND TELEPHONIC SERVICES, BY SPECIALTY CARE AREA, AND COVERAGE OF THESE SERVICES BY HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Director of Health to establish a telehealth and telephonic services working group to address the complexities surrounding the appropriate use of telehealth and telephonic services, by specialty care area, and coverage of these services by health insurance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that health care providers in Hawaii increasingly rely on real-time audio and visual telehealth visits and other modalities of care delivery to increase access to health care in the State. Your Committee further finds that there is a need to remedy digital health disparities for individuals who lack access to the audio-visual technology needed for telehealth visits. This measure addresses health care technology disparities by requesting the establishment of a working group to determine whether audio-only telephonic services can ensure quality health outcomes for patients.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Insurance Commissioner, rather than the Director of Health, to convene and chair the working group;

(2) Requesting a representative of the Department of Health be invited to participate in the working group, rather than requesting the initial inclusion of the Director of Health, or designee, in the working group;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(4) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 66, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 66, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair