STAND. COM. REP. NO. 716

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 797

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 797 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve patient care throughout the State through the use of health information technology.  Specifically, this measure appropriates funds to the Department of Health to participate in federal matching grant programs associated with the development of health information technologies.

     Your Committee finds that health providers, insurers, governments, and consumers rely on health information technology to provide an overall framework for the comprehensive management and secure exchange of health information.  The use of this type of technology helps to improve health care quality, prevent medical errors, decrease paperwork, and improve patient care.  This measure helps the State to obtain federal funds through matching grant programs for the development of health information technology systems.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 797, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 797, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair