STAND. COM. REP. NO. 350

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 798

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. 798 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the definition of "quality assurance committee" to include interdisciplinary quality assurance committees composed of members from various health care organizations.  The intent of this measure is to encourage robust discussion that includes the opinions of various health care organizations and leads to positive changes in policies, procedures, or practices.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Queen's Medical Center and Hawaii Medical Service Association.

     Your Committee finds that one of the cornerstones of modern medical care is an effective quality assurance program.  Your Committee further finds that this measure will encourage a full and free discussion that leads to effective changes in quality assurance policies, procedures, and practices.

     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. 798 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair