STAND. COM. REP. NO. 349-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2558

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2558 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEHEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand telehealth services to Hawaii residents by providing temporary licensure to physicians who perform certain medical treatments out-of-state via telehealth.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; AlohaCare; Hawaiian Islands Republican Women; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of Professional Nurses and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Medical Service Association; and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that state residents face critical health care gaps, particularly those on neighbor islands and those battling complex medical conditions for which specialty care may be locally unavailable. This measure allows residents to access telemedicine services from out-of-state physicians to address critical health care needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the proviso specifying that the performance of telemedicine services not otherwise violate state law;

(2) Inserting language requiring a physician licensed in the State to supervise the provision of telemedicine services by an out-of-state physician;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 2558, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2558, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair