STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1012

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 196
                                        H.D. 1
                                        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 H.B. No. 196, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOSPITALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of
Health (DOH) to conduct a health needs assessment to determine
the type and level of medical care necessary for the Lahaina and
West-Maui community.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health, State Health Planning and
Development Agency (SHPDA), Hawaii Health Systems Corporation,
and Hawaii Medical Association (HMA).

     The legislature finds that emergency medical facilities in
Lahaina, Maui, are insufficient for the needs of the community.
There are only two primary care clinics in Lahaina which are
unequipped to handle serious emergencies such as heart attacks.
The nearest emergency facility is at Maui Memorial Hospital,
which is at least a forty-five minute drive during non-peak
traffic hours.

     Based on the testimony of SHPDA and HMA, two recent studies
have been done along the same lines as provided in this measure.
Your Committee has reviewed both studies and finds that more
study is not necessary.  Based on a SHPDA study, "Tri-Isle Health
Care Needs Assessment", your Committee finds that Lahaina needs a

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1012
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twenty-four hour emergency care center to reduce the need to use
an ambulance unit for non-life threatening transports.  Based on
a state commissioned study by the R.M. Towill Corporation, "West
Maui Acute Care Facility Feasibility Study", your Committee
further finds that an additional ambulance unit is needed in
Lahaina.

     Your Committee believes that the two appropriations made by
this amended measure are not mutually exclusive.  A second
ambulance and a free-standing emergency room compliment each
other.  The population of Lahaina and West Maui is growing
steadily, with a concomitant demand for medical emergency
services in that area, independent of services and facilities in
Wailuku.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by replacing its
contents with provisions that:

     (1)  Add language to section 1 from the two studies;

     (2)  Appropriate funds to DOH for an additional ambulance
          unit for Lahaina; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds to DOH for a free-standing emergency
          room in Lahaina or near Lahaina.

     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 H.B. No. 196, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B.
No. 196, H.D. 1, 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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