STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1823

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 716

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 716, H.D. 1, S.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 establish within the Department of Health, the Health Information Technology Infrastructure Grant Program, which shall be administered by the State Health Planning and Development Agency.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency, Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, OCHIN, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center.

Your Committee finds that health information technology infrastructure is essential for the efficient operation of federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Ryan White HIV/AIDS program centers, and Native Hawaiian health centers that provide crucial health services to the State's disadvantaged population. Your Committee believes that the grant program proposed by this measure will promote public health by helping to build or improve the health information technology infrastructure of qualifying health care entities in the State that currently lack a sufficient infrastructure.

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. 716, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair