STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1199-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2157

      S.D. 1

      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 S.B. No. 2157, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure treatment for people living with pain from disease and chronic conditions by amending the Patient's Bill of Rights to clarify that pain patients have a right to be prescribed controlled substances to relieve pain.  This bill will help to provide relief to pain patients so that they can lead normal lives to the greatest extent possible, by providing them with access to the medication they need.

     Specifically, this bill:

(1)  Clarifies the provisions for prescribing opiate medication for pain treatment; and

(2)  Extends the time, from three to seven days after a prescription has been issued, within which schedule II controlled substance prescriptions must be filled.

     The Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific Inc., Longs Drugs Stores, Kokua Mau, Kauai Hospice, Hospice of Hilo, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by including the contents of H.B. No. 2519, H.D. 2 as parts II through V of this bill to address the critical shortage of health care professionals Hawaii is experiencing by providing incentives for physicians and dentists to work in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) of the state.  Among other things, these provisions:

(1)  Establish the Hawaii Rural Physician Loan Program for students at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine who agree to participate in the Hawaii Health Corps Program (HHCP) and work at least five years as a physician in HPSAs of the state and as first responders during civil defense and other emergencies;

(2)  Establish the Hawaii Health Corps Stipend Program that provides stipends for physicians and dentists who agree to provide services in HPSAs of the state and as first responders during civil defense and other emergencies;

(3)  Establish the Hawaii Health Corps Fund;

(4)  Increase access to quality health care in HPSAs by making the Enterprise Zone tax credits and exemptions and other business incentives available to physicians and dentists who establish or maintain practices in areas designated as enterprise zones; and

(5)  Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds for the creation of the HHCP and for the administration of health care enterprise zones.

     Your Committee has further amended this bill by 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 S.B. No. 2157, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2157, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair