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.C.R. No. 71, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau (Hereinafter LRB) to conduct a study of the issues hospitals face with regard to wait listed patients in Hawaii in need of long term medical care.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and Hawaii Long Term Care Association. The Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments for your Committee's consideration.

Your Committee finds that hospitals in Hawaii have been facing serious problems regarding waitlists for acute care patients waiting for transfer to long-term care facilities. Requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study into these pertinent issues will help to facilitate a plan for an effective long-term solution.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 71, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.