STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1529

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 599

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 599, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize physician assistants to issue orders for respiratory therapy and plans of care; and

(2) Expand the types of health care providers under whom respiratory therapists may practice respiratory care to include physician assistants and advance 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 State Center for Nursing, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Academy of Physician Assistants, Hawaii Society for Respiratory Care, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Association of Professional Nurses, and Hawai‘i Public Health Association.

Your Committee finds that respiratory therapy is the health care discipline specializing in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function, health, and wellness. Your Committee further finds that respiratory therapists in the State must practice under the direction of a licensed physician. This requirement, in conjunction with the health care provider shortage in the State, has severely limited the ability for residents to access respiratory therapy, especially in rural and underserved areas. This measure reduces barriers to respiratory care by authorizing respiratory therapists to practice under the order and direction of health care providers other than physicians.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 599, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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