STAND. COM. REP. NO.  968

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 665

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 665, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the primary care workforce in the State by appropriating funds for:

(1)  The Hawaii Health Corps;

(2)  Programs of the John A. Burns School of Medicine's Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence, such as the Imi Hoola Program and the Native Hawaiian Student Pathway to Medicine Program; and

(3)  Increasing faculty and infrastructure of the existing Family Medicine Residency Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine and development of new accredited family health centers in association with teaching hospitals.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Medical Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, Community Alliance for Mental Health, United Self Help, and two individuals supported this measure.  The John A. Burns School of Medicine supported the intent of this measure.

     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. 665, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair