STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2684

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2414

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2414, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to evaluate the effectiveness of health care programs in the State.

     Specifically, this measure directs the Legislative Reference Bureau to compile and analyze existing studies of the various state-funded portions of Medicaid-sponsored programs, including Medicaid and med-QUEST, offered by the State's Department of Human Services.  The measure also appropriates an unspecified amount to assist the Bureau to conduct the study.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State Procurement Office.  The Legislative Reference Bureau offered comments.

     Your Committee finds that the proposed study constitutes a step towards addressing the complex issues of health care costs in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2414, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair