STAND. COM. REP. NO. 737

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 599

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 599, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow certain physician assistants to sign orders for respiratory therapy and plans of care; and

(2) Expand the class of health care providers under whom respiratory therapists may practice respiratory care to include osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Nursing, Hawaii Medical Board, Hawai‘i Academy of Physician Assistants, Hawai‘i Association of Professional Nurses, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that, to provide patients in the State with high quality care despite the State's chronic provider shortage, it is crucial that the scopes of practice of health care providers reflect the full extent of their training and capabilities. Your Committee further finds that physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses are credentialled to provide critical care to both adults and children, and are educated, trained, and authorized to write orders to manage ventilators. Your Committee also finds that federal regulations allow qualified non-physician health care providers, including physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses, to order respiratory therapy for patients to be implemented by respiratory therapists, but existing state law prohibits them from prescribing, ordering, or directing respiratory care services. This measure aligns state law with federal standards to provide greater access to respiratory health care services for the residents of the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 599, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair