STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1149-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2487

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2487 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "quality assurance committee" as used in the Hawaii Revised Statutes in relation to liability protection to match other statutory definitions of the same term for consistency. This measure also authorizes the establishment of a quality assurance committee outside of a single health plan or hospital.

The Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hilo Medical Center, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Blue Zones Project, HPM Building Supply, Community Action Network, Community First, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association, and a few concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Hawaii Association for Justice submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee notes that the Hawaii Association for Justice submitted testimony in opposition to the amended definition's description of a quality assurance committee's function due to concerns that the new language will broaden the scope of medical information protected from disclosure under the guise of quality assurance activities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment to correct a drafting error.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2487, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2487, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair