Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1587 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require the approval of the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) prior to the acquisition of an ownership or controlling interest in a private nonprofit hospital by a nonprofit corporation or a government entity.

Testimony in full support of this measure was received from SHPDA.

Your Committee realizes that medical care costs are of major concern to many consumers and that SHPDA was created to address some of these cost concerns. The idea was that through careful thought and planning, medical costs could be controlled.

This bill is a housekeeping measure that clarifies language in a new section of the SHPDA chapter to make it consistent with other sections in that chapter.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1587 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.