STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1214

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 223

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 223, H.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure the provision of quality health care services and the sustainability of Hawaii's medical services system. 

     Specifically, this measure establishes the Health Care Reinvestment Fund and the Health Insurance Support Special Fund to subsidize the costs of health care services.  Specific proportions of the Health Care Reinvestment Fund are directed to the Trauma System Special Fund, subsidies for medical malpractice insurance, aeromedical evacuation services, rural emergency facilities, and workforce development for medically underserved areas of the State.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Budget and Finance, and Hawaii Medical Association.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's trauma system, statewide aeromedical evacuation programs, and rural hospitals are essential components of the statewide emergency medical services system and are vulnerable to deterioration due to the limited funding support currently available to sustain them.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by including an appropriation from the general revenues to the Health Care Reinvestment Special Fund.

     Your Committees have further amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 223, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 223, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair