STAND. COM. REP. NO. 299

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1238

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1238 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PATIENT NAVIGATION PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and make an appropriation for a two-year temporary patient navigation program based at Moloka‘i General Hospital for patients with chronic disease in medically underserved rural communities.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Molokai General Hospital, The Queen's Health Systems, ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka (Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians), Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, ‘Imi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

     Your Committee finds that it is important that Hawaii residents living in rural communities such as the Island of Moloka‘i have access to timely medical care.  Your Committee further finds that the State is committed to providing quality healthcare services to Native Hawaiians, and recognizes that Native Hawaiians have higher morbidity and mortality rates for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

     Your Committee additionally finds that patient navigation utilizes evidence-based practices in cancer and other chronic disease care that assist patients through complex healthcare systems to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment and address potential barriers to care.  Moloka‘i General Hospital began using patient navigation services in 2006 and has demonstrated increases in cancer screening rates and effective care coordination for cancer patients who are referred off-island to cancer treatment care.  Your Committee finds that Moloka‘i General Hospital is a rural healthcare facility that understands the value of coordinated care for patients in need of specialty services and the unique challenges of accessing care in an island state.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount;

     (2)  Inserting language to appropriate the funds as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to Moloka‘i General Hospital for the patient navigation program; and

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

Your Committee notes that although the appropriation amount has been removed, the recommended appropriation for the two-year temporary patient navigation program based at Moloka‘i General Hospital is $200,000 per fiscal year.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1238, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1238, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair