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. 1263 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center for emergency medical services.

The Department of Health, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the need for twenty-four hour emergency room service for the increasing Waianae population of forty-two thousand continues to accelerate. The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center is the only medical facility in the area that is available and equipped to handle emergencies and stabilization of victims of serious trauma. Its emergency room is one of the most heavily utilized on Oahu. Without funding, the Center will be forced to consider options such as eliminating overnight emergency services or laboratory and radiology services for Waianae Coast.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to appropriate different sums for each fiscal year given the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's specific appropriation request.

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. 1263, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1263, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.