STAND. COM. REP. NO.  733

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1704

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1704 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide community-based governance of Hawaii's state-run hospitals by:

(1)  Splitting the five regions within the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC); and

(2)  Establishing a regional subsidiary corporation for the Maui region as a first step to more regional control for all regions.

     The Maui Medical Group, Maui Memorial Medical Center's Administration, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this measure.  HHSC, several members of HHSC Board of Directors, the administrative bodies of: West Kauai Medical Center, Kona Community Hospital, Hilo Medical Center, Ka'u Hospital, and Leahi Hospital; and United Public Workers opposed this bill.  The Office of Informational Practices submitted comments.

     Your Committee has requested that stake-holders in this important measure meet with one another to work out their differences, develop an amicable solution for all parties, and provide the recommendations by March 1, 2007.  It is apparent by the strong showing of this bill's proponents from Maui that the Maui region needs some form of independence to develop appropriate health care plans and facilities that serve Maui's specific communities' needs in the best possible way.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2500, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 1704, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1704, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair