Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 3283, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount to develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database.

The State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, and an individual physician testified in support of the measure.

Your Committee finds that there is a growing shortage of healthcare professionals in Hawaii. As the general population ages, so does the health care workforce, which exacerbates the growing shortage of healthcare professionals. Also, low reimbursement rates, challenging work conditions, medical malpractice insurance costs, and other issues continue to hamper the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.

This measure addresses these concerns by providing the means for the State Health Planning and Development Agency to develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive healthcare workforce map and database to:

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. 3283, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.