STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1383

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 135

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 135 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO STUDY THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACT OF MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR USE OF THE LG1 INTELLIGENT MEDICAL VIGILANCE SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries that occur in hospitals due to inadequate monitoring of patient respiration and blood pressure rates.

     Specifically, this measure requests the Auditor to study the social and financial impact of mandatory health insurance coverage for use of the LG1 Intelligent Medical Vigilance System.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hoana Medical, Inc. and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

     Your Committee finds that innovative monitoring technology, such as the LG1 Intelligent Medical Vigilance System, which is designed to alert hospital staff of any abnormalities or changes to a patient's respiration rate, heart rate, or mobility will help to ensure that quality health care is provided in a time efficient manner.  The current shortage of hospital nurses in conjunction with the time sensitive issues resulting from abnormal respiration and heart rates and unattended bed exits of patients, creates opportunities for preventable deaths and injuries.

     Your Committee further finds that the LG1 Intelligent Medical Vigilance System will provide hospital staff with tools necessary to provide patients with early intervention health care.  As a result, health care costs will be lowered without compromising quality health care and the working conditions of the already overburdened nursing and medical staff will be enhanced.

     Your Committee further finds that when mandating health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of an individual or group health insurance policy, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires a concurrent resolution to be adopted requesting an Auditor's impact assessment report.

     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.R. No. 135 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair