Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 195 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve access to specialty care on the neighbor islands and in rural Oahu.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, the Arc of Kauai, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the Hawaii Medical Home Implementation Grant, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, the Hawaii Psychological Association, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and one individual submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health submitted comments.

Your Committees find that thousands of Hawaii residents, particularly vulnerable populations, experience restricted access to specialists because of the limited number of practitioners who are willing to participate in Medicaid or QUEST or to serve the uninsured population. This crisis is even more prevalent for neighbor island residents and residents of rural Oahu. This measure will help identify the barriers and lead to concrete recommendations to improve access to specialty care.

Upon further consideration, and at the request of several proponents, your Committees have amended this measure to include the following agencies for the State Health Planning and Development Agency to consult with:

(1) The Department of Health;

(2) The State Council on Developmental Disabilities;

(3) The Insurance Commissioner;

(4) Hawaii Psychological Association;

(5) Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association; and

(6) Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

Your Committees have also amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive changes for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 195, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 195, S.D. 1.