STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1190

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 139

       S.D. 1

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 Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 139 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and representatives from health plan providers in the State, to convene a Preterm Birth Task Force to develop best practices recommended by either the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for reducing elective inductions and cesarean deliveries. 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Puna Community Medical Center, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, and March of Dimes Foundation Hawaii Chapter.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

     Your Committees find that despite efforts to reduce preterm births, there remains a need for standardized guidelines and procedures among hospitals in Hawaii that are current with accepted best practices and guidelines to promote better awareness of the risks of elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries and to increase training opportunities among hospital personnel relating to elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries.  The creation of the Preterm Birth Task Force will help the State achieve these goals.  Your Committees find that the inclusion of a pediatric physician on the Preterm Birth Task Force will provide additional guidance.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by increasing the number of individuals requested to serve on the Preterm Birth Task Force by one to include a pediatric physician. 

     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.C.R. No. 139, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 139, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair