STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2897

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1953

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1953, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds:

     (1)  To increase the on-call availability of emergency medical services and ambulance services on the Leeward Coast of Oahu; and

     (2)  As a grant to Wahiawa General Hospital to provide additional emergency room services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, United Public Workers, and American Medical Response.

     Your Committee finds that the closure of the Hawaii Medical Center facilities has negatively impacted the State's ability to provide emergency medical services on the Leeward Coast of Oahu.  The City and County of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division must respond to emergency medical calls on the Leeward Coast and transport patients to emergency rooms elsewhere.  Furthermore, the remaining emergency rooms on Oahu have faced significantly increased use as well.  Your Committee consequently finds that appropriations to expand emergency medical services are in the interest of the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to allow for further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1953, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1953, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair