STAND. COM. REP. NO. 453

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 838
                                        




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. 838 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HANA
     COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide funding for the
operation of the Hana Community Health Center.  

     Testimony in favor of this measure was received from the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs, members of the Maui County Council,
Hana Community Health Center, and Papa Ola Lokahi.  Testimony in
favor of the intent of this measure was received from the Hawaii
State Department of Health and one member of the Maui County
Council.  Testimony opposed to this measure was received from UPS
AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

     Your Committee finds that the State transferred the Hana
Medical Center to the Hana Community Health Center in July 1997,
with a commitment to continue providing needed financial support
for the center's medical programs.  This transfer is costing the
State $500,000 less than it was costing to run the facility prior
to the privatization in July, 1997.

     The Hana Community Health Center is the only health provider
for the Hana district.  Your Committee finds that native
Hawaiians account for 65% of the patients served by the Hana

 
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Community Health Center and that the majority of Hana residents
fall within the poverty rates.

     Consequently, the Hana Community Health Center provides
prevention oriented health care, acute and chronic care, urgent
care, limited laboratory testing, limited x-ray services, and
prepacked medications in lieu of a full pharmacy.  Home health
care is also provided for patients who are unable to come to the
health center.  

     Your Committee finds that in fiscal year 1997-1998, the Hana
Community Health Center provided services to 2,300 patients,
which resulted in 6,214 patient visits.  This was an increase of
14% over the previous year.  The Hana Community Health Center
requires $1 million in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $1 million in
fiscal year 2000-2001 to maintain the current level of operation.  

     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. 838 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

 
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