STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2782

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3017

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3017 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the shortage of physicians in Hawaii.

More specifically, this measure makes an appropriation to fund:

     (1)  Family medicine primary care resident positions in rural Oahu and neighbor island communities in the State;

     (2)  An increase in faculty and infrastructure for the Family Medicine Residency Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; and

     (3)  The development of new accredited family health centers in association with teaching hospitals.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, and seven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has a shortage of physicians, most notably in rural areas of the State.  Also, many medical students graduate with significant educational debt and are obligated to choose a specialty with high compensation to repay their student loans.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that providing financial support for a Family Medicine Residency Training Program will increase the number of resident positions and take initial steps to implement a family medicine program on Kauai or in north Hawaii.

     Your Committee notes that the John A. Burns School of Medicine should provide a sustainable business model and financial plan for the implementation of the Family Medicine Residency Training Program; ongoing cost estimates for the program and sources of funding; and expected return on investment in the program, through such indicators as increased number of residency slots and access to care in rural areas.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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 S.B. No. 3017, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3017, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair