STAND. COM. REP. NO. 405

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 285

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 285 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve access to the full range of health care services to Medicaid and QUEST members accessing services through a mobile medical van on the Island of Hawaii.  The intent of this measure is to ensure that Medicaid and QUEST health plans have the flexibility to provide appropriate health services via technological means such as telehealth.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kona Community Hospital, and American Cancer Society Hawai‘i Pacific, Inc.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that access to appropriate health care, especially in rural areas of Hawaii, can be challenging.  The Island of Hawaii represents over sixty-five percent of all the land mass in the State of Hawaii, making it the largest geographic region of the State.  The Island of Hawaii also has the lowest population density in the State.  Your Committee recognizes the Island of Hawaii's unique demographics; this makes a mobile medical van an extremely beneficial service.

     Your Committee also finds that allowing QUEST and Medicaid members to access services through the mobile medical van will assist in improving the health of those with chronic conditions as well as improving the overall health of area residents.

     Your Committee further finds that the Legislature appropriated $350,000 in 2009 for the purchase of a mobile medical van for medical services on the Island of Hawaii.  Kona Community Hospital is in the process of procuring the medical van.  The Hospital has been working with Hawaii Medical Service Association, who has committed to help finance two years of operational costs.

     Your Committee has heard the concerns regarding the use of federal funding for services provided by a contracted health plan.  Your Committee notes that any service not approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not be eligible for federal funding.  Your Committee believes this issue merits further discussion by your Committee on Ways and Means.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Permitting the Department of Human Services to allow the use of a mobile health van equipped with telehealth services;

     (2)  Clarifying that the mobile medical van program operated by Kona Community Hospital shall be funded through a partnership with a non-profit mutual benefit society operating in the State; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 285, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 285, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair