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 H.B. No. 1431 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve dental health in underserved areas by allowing a dentist holding a temporary license to practice dentistry in a safety net dental provider organization.

The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley, and a concerned citizen testified in support of this measure. The Board of Dental Examiners and Hawaii Dental Association opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that the quality of oral health in rural areas is extremely poor. One of the contributing factors is the lack of qualified dentists in underserved areas. Additionally, there was conflicting testimony regarding the amount of reimbursement that federally qualified health centers (FQHC) receive for services rendered, which may be another contributing factor detracting dentists from practicing in FQHCs.

Your Committee has amended this bill accordingly 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. 1431, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1431, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.