STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3031

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2673

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2673, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that the authorized insurance benefits for chiropractic treatments for personal injury protection benefits under motor vehicle insurance be tied to the charges, and any subsequent increases in charges, permissible under the workers' compensation supplemental medical fee schedule.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association, Turning Point Chiropractic, Aloha Family Chiropractic, Dr. Jill Dawrs Family Chiropractic Clinic, and eleven individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Insurers Council.

Your Committees find that Act 251, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, amended the Motor Vehicle Insurance law and established the personal injury protection benefit for chiropractic treatments, which was set out as the lesser of thirty visits at not more than $75 per visit or treatment as defined by the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association guidelines. Your Committees find that in the nearly three decades since this benefit was first established, the cost of chiropractic care has continually increased, while the statutory benefit provided has remained the same. Therefore, this measure aligns the authorized benefit for chiropractic care with that for acupuncture treatments, which ties charges to those permissible under the workers' compensation supplemental medical fee schedule, and ensures equitable, fair, and accessible chiropractic care for individuals recovering from automobile accidents.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2673, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair