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. 810 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to make an appropriation to the Wahiawa General Hospital for its operating costs.

Supporting testimony for this measure was received from the Wahiawa Hospital Association, Wahiawa General Hospital, Pacific Sports Care, the Central Oahu Physician Hospital Organization, Pacific Community Health Inc., and various concerned citizens.

Your Committee notes that Wahiawa General Hospital serves a population of approximately one hundred and ten thousand people in the Central and North Oahu areas. Moreover, a significant number of these people which the hospital serves are either enrollees in the State Medicaid program or are reluctant to join the Medicaid program due to the tedious application process. Additionally, many persons who use the services of Wahiawa General Hospital are simply unable to pay for their care.

It is also understood that due to the large amount of uncompensated care provided by Wahiawa General Hospital, the hospital financial situation is negatively impacted and threatens the hospital's ability to provide services for its community.

Accordingly, realizing that Wahiawa General Hospital provides an invaluable service to the community it serves and other, surrounding communities, your Committee has decided to amend this measure by:

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. 810, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 810, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.