STAND. COM. REP. NO. 724

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 420

       S.D. 3

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. 420, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the availability and delivery of healthcare in the State by appropriating funds to expand certain direct health care services to qualified individuals and to finance projects at designated health centers throughout the State and promoting federally qualified health centers.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Hawai'i Primary Care Association.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from Patricia McManaman, Interim Director, Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that federally qualified health centers serve uninsured, low-income patient populations by providing timely, effective care and care management that reduces unnecessary emergency room visits while saving the State money.  The Committee further recognizes the need to develop infrastructure and facilities for community health centers to meet the demand for the service.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing all appropriation amounts to unspecified sums;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (3)  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 Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 420, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 420, S.D. 3.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair