STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1998-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2624

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2624, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and fund:

(1) A Telehealth Pilot Project to provide telehealth medical services at two distinct project sites in medically underserved areas; and

(2) A Rural Health Care Pilot Project to assist residents in three distinct rural areas, one each on the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Medical Association, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Disability and Communication Access Board; Hawaii State Council on Mental Health; Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association; and Molokai Ohana Health Care, Inc., dba Molokai Community Health Center.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2624, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair