STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1222

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 120
                                        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.C.R. No. 120 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY OF HEALTH
     CARE COSTS RELATED TO THE TREATMENT OF BREAST AND CERVICAL
     CANCER IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request a study of health
care costs related to the treatment of breast and cervical cancer
in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health and Hawaii State Commission on the
Status of Women.

     Your Committee finds that breast cancer is the most common
occurring cancer among women in Hawaii, with 500 to 600 new cases
diagnosed every year and causing more deaths among women in
Hawaii than any other form of cancer.  Mammograms are the most
effective screening test available for the early detection of
breast cancer.

     Pap smear tests are the most effective screening test
available for the early detection of cervical cancers and
pre-cancerous cell changes in the cervix.


 
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     Early detection of breast and cervical cancer improves
long-term survival from these otherwise fatal diseases and
significantly reduces treatment costs.

     Your Committee further finds that universally available
treatment of breast and cervical cancer is lacking in Hawaii,
which may be due to the cost of treatment.  The actual costs for
the treatment of breast and cervical cancer in Hawaii have never
been compiled or estimated.  The purpose of this measure is to
ascertain all costs with a view towards establishing a foundation
to eventually make the treatment of breast and cervical cancer
universally available.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to include the
Cancer Research Center of Hawaii in the study.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.C.R. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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