STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1808

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 49

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 49 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TELEHEALTH WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF WIDESPREAD TELEHEALTH ADOPTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IDENTIFY PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL TO OPTIMIZE TELEHEALTH UTILIZATION AS THE STATE TRANSITIONS OUT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the establishment of a telehealth working group to examine the impact of widespread telehealth adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify public policy initiatives at the federal and state level to optimize telehealth utilization as the State transitions out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, The Queen's Health System, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, National Association of Social Workers-Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, and Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy supported this measure. Hawaii Association of Health Plans offered comments.

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.C.R. No. 49 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair