STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2897

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 23

       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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 23 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ENDORSE THE "SCREEN AT 23" CAMPAIGN THAT SCREENS ADULT ASIAN AMERICANS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES AT A BODY MASS INDEX OF 23,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Health to endorse the "Screen at 23" campaign that screens adult Asian Americans for type 2 diabetes at a body mass index of 23.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and thirteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death among Asian Americans.  Asian Americans face a health care disparity in type 2 diabetes detection and diagnosis, as the current guidelines for screening Asian Americans at a body mass index of 25 not only miss thirty-two percent of diabetes diagnoses in Hawaii, but also underestimate the prevalence of pre-diabetes among Asian Americans.

     Your Committee further finds that early detection and treatment can mitigate diabetes-related complications, risks, and costs, as interventions focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight loss have been shown to reverse pre-diabetes, improve glucose function in people with diabetes, and reduce the need for multiple medications.  Screening Asian American patients at a body mass index of 23 instead of 25 would unmask thousands of new diabetes cases and more than three times that amount of new pre-diabetes cases in the State.  This measure allows Hawaii the opportunity to be one of the first states to formally recognize and recommend screening adult Asian Americans for type 2 diabetes at a body mass index of 23, enabling thousands of individuals to get the early care and treatment needed to live healthier lives.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting findings related to the United States Preventative Services Task Force's recommendation about earlier screening for persons in certain ethnic groups due to increased risk for diabetes at a younger age or lower body mass index; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 23, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 23, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair