STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2637

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2073

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2073 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEHEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow for standard telephone contacts for telehealth purposes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, State Council on Mental Health, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, National Association of Social Workers--Hawai‘i, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, AARP Hawai‘i, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii Association of Health Plans. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Governor's emergency order allowed the use of standard telephone contacts between health care providers and patients to minimize in-person meetings while ensuring continued access to care. Allowing insurance reimbursement for telehealth through standard telephone contacts greatly increased access to care for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, low-income, medically- and socially-complex patients, and those in rural areas who do not have the broadband capabilities, electronic equipment, financial means, transportation options, or technological proficiency to operate sophisticated digital video conferencing software. This measure aims to make provisions of the emergency order permanent by including standard telephone contacts in the definition of "telehealth".

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2073, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2073, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair