STAND. COM. REP. NO. 444

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 395
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 395 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the
medically underserved populations.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Human Services, Department of Health,
Hawaii State Primary Care Association, Aloha Care, Kalihi-Palama
Health Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Kokua
Kalihi Valley, Hawaii Nurses' Association, and a private citizen.

     Your Committee finds that the need to support health care
for medically underserved populations is critical.  It is well
known that these patients have disproportionately more serious
and chronic diseases than the general population.  Their only
source of medical care is community health centers which are
considered primary health care providers.  The situation is
especially critical for children who need adequate medical care
and attention in order to grow and develop properly and to reach
their full learning potential.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by: 


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 444
                                   Page 2


     (1)  Clarifying the last finding paragraph to include
          nonprofit organizations and the uninsured population;
          and

     (2)  Deleting the appropriation for medically underserved
          populations and inserting an appropriation of
          $5,854,062 for eight community health centers on three
          islands.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 395, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 395,
S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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