STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1304

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.C.R. No. 196

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 196 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE TO REDUCE ELECTIVE CESAREAN SECTIONS AND INDUCTION OF LABOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to improve infant health by reducing the instances of elective cesarean sections and induced labor in Hawaii through the development of standardized guidelines about these procedures, and through increased awareness of the potential infant health risks with which they are associated.  To this end, this resolution establishes the Preterm Birth Task Force with the following objectives:

(1)  Review laws and rules governing the licensure of hospitals in the State;

(2)  Determine if all hospitals with obstetric units in the State should be required to develop standardized policies and procedures that conform with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the Institute for Healthcare Improvement guidelines for reducing elective and cesarean deliveries;

(3)  Research and maintain current interdisciplinary best practices training materials;

(4)  Maintain a learning collaboration model for health care practitioners, physicians, staff, and registrars of hospitals, community health centers, and other institutions in the State;

(5)  Develop and implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public on the risks of elective preterm cesarean sections and induction of labor, and track data on the effectiveness of the campaign;

(6)  Track data relating to the rate of preterm births in Hawaii and the effect that changes in the rate of preterm births may have on infant morbidity and mortality; and

(7)  Examine other issues that may be related to elective preterm cesarean sections and induction of labor using trends and other information obtained through public health records.

     The Task Force is to be comprised of representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Human Services, healthcare providers, nonprofit agencies concerned with infant health, and physicians specializing in obstetrics or gynecology.  Further, the Task Force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least 20 days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session.

     The John A. Burns School of Medicine, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, March of Dimes Foundation-Hawaii Chapter and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  DOH supported the intent of this measure.  Hawaii Medical Association offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 196 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair