STAND. COM. REP. NO. 361

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1106

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1106 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WELLNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to create and appropriate funds for a Workplace Wellness Pilot Program to evaluate health and wellness alternatives that reduce the incidence of chronic disease, support state employees in adopting and maintaining healthier lifestyles, and reduce the costs of health care expenditures associated with emergency care and other hospital-based treatments for avoidable chronic diseases.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; American Cancer Society Hawai‘i Pacific, Inc.; and two private citizens. 

     Your Committees find that Hawaii must comply with federal health reform legislation requirements by 2014, including mandating physician reimbursements for outcomes rather than transactions.  Your Committees further find that this measure will help Hawaii meet these federal reform requirements. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1106 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair