STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1754-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 60

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.R. No. 60, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER 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 Insurance Commissioner 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 Department of Human Services, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from 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. However, there are remaining questions about how to best use and provide telehealth and other remote forms of care. This measure therefore establishes a working group to further discuss health care technology disparities and identify the appropriate use of audio-only telephonic services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the composition of the Telehealth and Telephonic Services Working Group by:

(A) Requesting the Chairs of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness and Senate Committee on Health, or their designees, to convene the Working Group and serve as its co-chairs, rather than the Insurance Commissioner;

(B) Specifying that the representative from the Department of Health is to be the Director of Health, or the Director's designee; and

(C) Permitting the co-chairs to invite other individuals to be members of the Working Group;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 60, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 60, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair