STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1501

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 148

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 148 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING A STATE-LED COORDINATED EFFORT BY THE HEALTH CARE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT HAWAII IS ABLE TO RAPIDLY RESPOND TO AND QUALIFY FOR GRANT MONEY OFFERED IN THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR HEALTH CARE INFORMATION EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge a state-led coordinated effort by the health care and technology communities to ensure that Hawaii is able to rapidly respond to and qualify for grant money offered in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for Health Care Information Exchange technology.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

     Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that obtaining federal funding for health care technology that includes the health information exchange is vital to the improvement of Hawaii's medical technology infrastructure.  Hawaii's unique geographical location necessitates that cutting edge ideas and technologies are fostered to help overcome issues regarding access to medical care, especially for disadvantaged and disabled populations and those residing in rural areas.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the title to read:

"URGING THE GOVERNOR TO DESIGNATE, AND ASSERTING THE LEGISLATURE'S ENDORSEMENT OF, THE HAWAII HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE, INC. TO SERVE AS THE STATE'S QUALIFIED STATE-DESIGNATED ENTITY TO EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES TO ENSURE THAT HAWAII IS ABLE TO RAPIDLY RESPOND TO AND QUALIFY FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR HEALTH CARE INFORMATION EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY";

     (2)  Clarifying that the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc., is a 501(c) non-profit organization recently formed by key stakeholders in the Hawaii health care community including representatives from various hospitals, health insurers, physician organizations, federal community health centers, and other health care providers;

     (3)  Inserting language that states "the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc. is 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";

     (4)  Inserting language that states "the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc. is dedicated to making any changes necessary to ensure that federal requirements are met to qualify Hawaii for funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009";

     (5)  Inserting language that states "the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc. has pledged to raise private funds that will match state funds for health information technology initiatives";

     (6)  Clarifying that "the Legislature fully supports and endorses the designation of the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Inc. as the qualified state-designated entity to effectively coordinate health information exchange technology initiatives in Hawaii";

     (7)  Adding the Chief Executive Officer of Hawaii Pacific Health; the Chief Executive Officer of The Queen's Health Services; the Chief Executive Officer of Waianae Coast Comprehensive Family Services; and the President of Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii to the list of individuals to receive certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution; and

     (8)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of consistency, clarity, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 148, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 148, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Economic Development and Technology,

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair