STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2063

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2039
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2039 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR MEDICINE
     BANK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for
the Medicine Bank.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health, Bay Clinic, Inc., Hawaii State
Primary Care Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Healthcare
Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Nurses' Association, Waimanalo
Health Center, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, and one private
individual.

     The Medicine Bank, a project of the Hawaii State Primary
Care Association, was opened in August, 1997, to collect and
distribute donated pharmaceuticals to medically indigent patients
at community health centers.  As public private partnership, the
Medicine Bank has been supported by federal funds from the Bureau
of Primary Health Care and by in-kind staff and space provided by
the Department of Health at Waimano Home.  In addition, various
individuals and local foundations have contributed cash to
community health centers to purchase pharmaceuticals which are
not donated but are needed by patients.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2063
                                   Page 2


     Your Committee finds that the Medicine Bank's work is
endangered by the closing of Waimano Home and termination of in-
kind services and space provided by the Department of Health.
The legislature further finds that $100,000 is needed to ensure
the continuation of the Medicine Bank.

     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. 2039 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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

 
a                                                     SB2039