STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1080-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2076

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2076, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1)  Establish the Durable Medical Equipment Supplier License Program (Program), which requires the licensure of any person who sells, dispenses, delivers, or services durable medical equipment;

(2)  Authorize license fees to be deposited into the Office of Health Care Assurance Special Fund (Special Fund) for the administration of the Program;

(3)  Amend the cap amount on the Special Fund that can be used for activities of the Office of Health Care Assurance; and

(4)  Amend the limit on the excess amount in the Special Fund that is deposited into the general fund each fiscal year.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, The Queen's Health Systems, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii COPD Coalition, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, and Hawai‘i Primary Care Association testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Disability Rights Center and Hawaii Medical Service Association commented on this measure.

     Your Committee notes that this measure is similar to H.B. No. 1673, H.D. 2, which was heard by the House.  Should this measure proceed further in the legislative process, your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce and the Committee on Finance further discuss and deliberate on the amount of the cap on the Special Fund and the limit on the excess amount in the Special Fund that is deposited into the general fund.

     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. 2076, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair