STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2063

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2417

       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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2417 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to effectuate the recommendations made by the Maui Health Initiative Task Force pursuant to Act 219, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, to ensure the provision of quality health services in Maui county.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Department of Health to enter into a contract with the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive study of the adequacy of the existing health care delivery in the County of Maui and appropriates funds for this purpose.

     In addition, this measure provides a tax credit for physicians and medical facilities that furnish medical services in Maui county.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.  The Department of Taxation and Hawaii Medical Association submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that it is important to develop a policy that ensures sustainable access to quality health care in the County of Maui.  The Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the formation and operation of a health information exchange system in the State of Hawaii, which would allow a secure and rapid exchange of medical information.  Enabling the Hawaii Health Information Exchange to conduct a comprehensive study of the health care needs in Maui county, in conjunction with providing a tax credit for physicians and medical facilities will effectuate the recommendations made by the Maui Health Initiative Task Force pursuant to Act 219, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, and ensure sustainable quality health care in Maui.

     Your Committee amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2417, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2417, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Taxation.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair