STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1267

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 417

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 417, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the severe shortage of healthcare providers in the State.

     More specifically, this measure appropriates an unspecified amount for the Interdisciplinary Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program at Hilo Medical Center. 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hawaii State Center for Nursing; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Hilo Medical Center; Hilo Medical Center Foundation; Hawaii Council of Mayors; Office of the Mayor-County of Hawaii; Hawaii County Council; AARP; East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai; Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Pacific Health; Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi; Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; PCMC; Wyndham Vacation Ownership; and thirty-eight concerned individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from Hawaii Health Systems-East Hawaii Region; Hilo Medical Center Home Care; and five concerned individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the State faces a severe shortage of healthcare providers.  The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program administered by Hilo Medical Center is a training model that generates interdisciplinary teams capable of caring for four times as many patients as independent practicing physicians.  This measure would provide the necessary funds to expand this successful training model to other parts of the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of style.

     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 H.B. No. 417, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 417, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair