STAND. COM. REP. NO. 435________

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 172
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 172, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOSPICE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage the use of hospice
care and to ensure consistent, high-quality hospice care.

     Specifically, this bill authorizes the Department of Health
to license hospice service agencies, including hospice homes that
provide twenty-four-hour living accommodations to no more than
five unrelated persons admitted to a hospice program of care,
which provides palliative and supportive care for terminally ill
persons and their families or caregivers.  The bill also defines
"hospice", "hospice home", "hospice services", and "hospice
service agency".  Finally, the bill permits hospice homes in
residential areas for purposes of zoning.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill
from the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Catholic
Conference, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hospice Hawaii,
Hospice of Hilo, Hospice Maui, North Hawaii Hospice, Inc., St.
Francis Hospice, Kauai Hospice, and the Department of Health.

     Your Committee believes that this bill will encourage wider
use of hospice care, which will increase patient satisfaction as

 
a                                                         99-1738
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 435________
                                 Page 2

 
well as save money over hospital or other forms of acute care at
the end of life.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 172, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair

 
a                                                         99-1738