STAND

STAND. COM. REP. 1073

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 745

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 745, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide emergency medical services to rural communities by:

(1) Require the Department of Health (DOH) to establish emergency aeromedical services throughout the state;

(2) Appropriating funds for an emergency helicopter aeromedical service for Maui County;

(3) Appropriating funds for emergency services, including ambulance services, for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC);

(4) Appropriating funds for ambulance services for the Kihei-Wailea region of Maui; and

(5) Appropriating funds for ambulance services for the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates region on the island of Hawaii.

The Mayor of Maui County, Hawaii County Fire Department, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, American Medical Response, WCCHC, Molokai General Hospital, Maui Hotel Association, Maui Memorial Medical Center, Wailea Community Association, several members of the Maui County Council, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Maui County Executive on Aging, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. DOH supported the intent of this measure. Hawaii Air Ambulance supported this measure with amendments. Several concerned individuals opposed this measure. Numerous individuals commented.

Your Committee finds that rural areas are in dire need of emergency medical services. Because of their remote location, emergency services often are not provided in a timely manner in these rural areas. Your Committee finds further that the County of Maui would greatly benefit from aeromedical helicopter services, and that ambulance service is a state function and should not require county funds.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Requiring that emergency helicopter utilization be based on national standards and guidelines;

(2) Removing the reference to emergency medical services at WCCHC and instead appropriating funds for an ambulance to serve the Waianae area;

(3) Eliminating the requirement for matching county funds, with the exception of the emergency helicopter aeromedical service for Maui County; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

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 S.B. No. 745, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 745, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

		____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair