STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1565

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 79

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 79 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION EAST AND WEST REGIONAL BOARDS TO ESTABLISH THE BIG ISLAND LONG-TERM CARE COALITION TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR LONG-TERM CARE SOLUTIONS ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation East and West regional boards to establish the Big Island Long-Term Care Coalition to develop a plan for long‑term care solutions on the Big Island of Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association.

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

     Your Committees find that the lack of long-term care facilities, particularly on the island of Hawaii, is one of the most critical health care issues facing the senior and adult disabled population.  The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation is most affected by the availability of and support for long-term care.  Therefore, leadership from the Corporation's Big Island regional boards is appropriate for the important task of pulling a coalition together to develop solutions.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 79 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair