STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3630

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1895

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1895, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to establish, and appropriate moneys for, two full-time equivalent positions to support the Department of Health's ability to review, certify, and recertify dialysis centers and other health care facilities under its purview.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the number of patients in Hawaii with chronic kidney disease is increasing. Your Committee also finds that funding additional positions within the Department of Health will improve the Department's capacity to review, certify, and recertify end stage renal dialysis facilities and other health care facilities and increase access to dialysis care in the State. Your Committee acknowledges the Department of Health's intent to seek additional funding for these positions from the appropriate federal agency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2035, 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 H.B. No. 1895, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1895, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair