STAND. COM. REP. NO. 148

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 420

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 420, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to expand certain direct health care services to qualified individuals and to finance projects at designated health centers throughout the State to assist federally qualified health centers provide timely, effective direct care that reduces unnecessary emergency room visits.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i, and Papa Ola Lokahi.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.  Your Committee received comments from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that federally qualified health centers are a smart investment that results in healthier communities while saving the State money.  Your Committee further finds that, in these troubled economic times, these health centers provide low cost alternatives to high cost emergency room visits.  Testimony received by your Committee suggested that the measure be amended to clarify that the funds appropriated should only be used for the provision of direct health care services provided at federally qualified health centers in order to ensure that these valuable health centers receive the full benefit of the appropriation.  Your Committee concurs with the recommendation received through testimony to include an additional appropriation to provide much needed exam room renovations at the Pahoa Family Health Center. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the funds appropriated under section 3 of this measure are for the provision of direct health care services for uninsured individuals at federally qualified health centers; and

     (2)  Appropriating $800,000 for exam room renovations at the Pahoa Family Health Center on the island of Hawaii.

     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 S.B. No. 420, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 420, S.D. 2, 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