STAND. COM. REP. NO.  220-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2393

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2393 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve Hawaii's critical shortage of health care providers in rural underserved areas of the state by providing financial support to students who complete a state-approved medical school program at the University of Hawaii (UH) and who agree to practice in rural areas of the state as designated by UH.

     The Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii supported this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that this bill is an innovative step in addressing Hawaii's severe shortage of physicians in rural areas of the state.  This measure complements others now moving through the Legislature, such as H.B. No. 2519, which establishes the Hawaii Health Corps Program and a loan repayment system for physicians who commit to work in health professional shortage areas of the state.  The more we can do to overcome this health care challenge the better off our state will be.  Your Committee on Higher Education is encouraged to ensure the continuation of these valuable programs.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage 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. 2393, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2393, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair