STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2274

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3235

       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. 3235 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide cost-effective care for Hawaii residents who are uninsured while ensuring that the community health center system remains financially viable and stable in the face of a growing population of uninsured persons.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates $2,000,000 for the provision of direct health care to the uninsured, which may include primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care; provided that distribution of funds may be on a "per visit" basis, taking into consideration need on all islands.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Community Clinic of Maui; Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i; Bay Clinic, Inc.; Moloka‘i Community Health Center; West Hawaii Community Health Center; Aloha Medical Mission Free Clinic; Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; Kalihi-Palama Health Center; Kokua Kalihi Valley; Waikiki Health Center; Waimanalo Health Center; and ten individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Federally Qualified Health Centers are one of the few programs for community-based health services and are an essential component to Hawaii's health care system.  Your Committee further finds that financial assurance needs to be provided to these community health centers to remain financially viable so they can continue to provide quality health services to the residents of Hawaii.

     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. 3235, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3235, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair