Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 115 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to provide cost-effective medical care for uninsured Hawaii residents.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii and Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that approximately ten percent of the population of the State has no public or private health insurance. As the Healthcare Association of Hawaii testified, nonprofit, community-based, health care centers in particular have proven to be effective in providing comprehensive primary care services to residents of poor and disadvantaged communities. This measure appropriates funds that will enable these providers to serve Hawaii's relatively large population of uninsured people.

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. 115 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.