STAND. COM. REP. NO. 632

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 62

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 62 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Reestablish the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund to enable the John A. Burns School of Medicine, in consultation with the Hawaii Medical Education Council, to provide funding for medical education and training in Hawaii; and

(2) Appropriate moneys to the John A. Burns School of Medicine to:

(A) Expand medical residency and training in Hawaii, with an emphasis on supporting residency training on the neighbor islands and in medically underserved populations throughout the State; and

(B) Create further medical residency and training opportunities through a partnership between the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Associated Students of the University of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Health System, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committees find that there is a health care provider shortage in the State, particularly on the neighbor islands. Research suggests that physicians who complete medical school and residency training in Hawaii remain in Hawaii to practice, and medical residents who train on the neighbor islands are more likely to practice on the neighbor islands. Because graduate medical costs in the State are largely borne by the University of Hawaii and its affiliated health systems, ongoing medical education funding is critical to the recruitment, training, and retention of physicians in the State. Therefore, to mitigate the State's physician shortage, this measure expands medical and residency training in Hawaii by reestablishing the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund and appropriating moneys to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 62, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 62, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair