STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1660

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 146

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 146, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORK GROUP TO EXAMINE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND RISK ADJUSTMENT FOR MEDICAID, GAP-GROUP, AND UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the establishment of a work group to examine social determinants of health and risk adjustment for Medicaid, gap-group, and uninsured individuals.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ohana Health Plan, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Community Alliance for Mental Health.

     Your Committees find that the health and well-being of an individual and community can be attributed to social determinants.  The risk factors involved in these determinants are related to homelessness, abuse, unemployment, and poverty and can have a significant impact on the health outcomes that may not be resolved through traditional medical care.  The convening of a work group with broad representation would be an effective means of addressing these social determinants, as any effort to combat the social determinants of health must be comprehensive.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 146, H.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Ways and Means,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair	____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair
	____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair