STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1478

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1477

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1477, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RURAL PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TRAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase access to primary health care services provided by family physicians or residents in the family medicine residency program at the University of Hawaii to medically underserved residents in rural areas of the State.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates:

     (1)  $1 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and fiscal year 2008-2009 to support and expand the family medicine residency program of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine's department of family medicine and community health to provide rural primary health care services;

     (2)  $1 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and fiscal year 2008-2009 to develop a statewide rural primary health care training program to provide family physicians to rural areas and improve health care access for the people of Hawaii; and

     (3)  $400,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 for the Hawaii Quentin Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Training Program to continue its program addressing the shortage of health care professionals in rural communities in the State.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Director of the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center of the University of the Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Chairperson of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health of the Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the project director of the Hawaii Quentin Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Training Program, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Mayor of Hawaii County, and two individuals.  The Interim Dean of the Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine offered comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting section 5 of the measure that appropriates funds to the Quentin Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Training Program as funding for this program is provided for in the biennium budget; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of consistency and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1477, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1477, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair