STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1741-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2157

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2157, S.D. 1, H.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:

     (1)  Amending the Patient's Bill of Rights to clarify a pain patient's right to be prescribed controlled substances to relieve pain; and

     (2)  Extending the time limit in which prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances must be filled.

     This bill also addresses the critical shortage of health care professionals in Hawaii by providing incentives for physicians and dentists to work in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) of the state.

     The Department of Public Safety, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, Hospice Hawaii, and Longs Drugs testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Taxation, Department of Health, Pediatrics Residency Program, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific Inc., Kokua Mau, Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Kauai Hospice, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hospice of Hilo, and several concerned individuals offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting all provisions relating to incentives for physicians and dentists to work in HPSAs of the state;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2157, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2157, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair