STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1368-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.R. No. 202

      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.R. No. 202 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE AND THE STATE'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OF PROVIDING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AT ALL FIVE STAGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to study the financial and economic impact of chronic kidney disease in Hawaii.

     Specifically, this measure requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on the potential financial and economic impact to the State and the State's healthcare system of providing care for patients in all stages of chronic kidney disease.  In addition, this measure requests that the Legislative Reference Bureau consult with and utilize data available from the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the Hawaii chapter of the National Kidney Foundation in preparing the study.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii chapter of the National Kidney Foundation and St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii.  Comments on this measure were submitted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committee recognizes that Hawaii has a high incidence of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease and that the number of these patients is growing.  Your Committee believes that this study will help to assess the financial and economic impacts of chronic kidney disease on the State's economy and healthcare systems.  Your Committee believes that this study could pave the way to providing new strategies for preventing and treating chronic kidney disease in the State.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee finds that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism possesses the most appropriate resources to conduct an economic analysis to determine the impact of chronic kidney disease on the State's economy.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure as follows:

     (1)  By requesting that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism conduct a study on the impact of chronic kidney disease on the State's economy and report its findings to the Legislature;

     (2)  By requesting St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii to provide data and information to assist the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with their studies;

     (3)  By amending the title of this measure to reflect that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is being requested to conduct a separate study; and

     (4)  By making technical amendments for the purposes of 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 202, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 202, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair