STAND. COM. REP. NO. 576

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 799

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 799 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the provision of care by clarifying certain provisions relating to physician practices at organized ambulatory health care facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of Professional Nurses; Community First Hawaii; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Aloha Surgical Center; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Healthcare Association of Hawaii and Hawaii Association of Health Plans.

Your Committee finds that the State continues to experience a significant health care worker shortage, particularly on the neighbor islands. Your Committee further finds that some Oahu-based physicians schedule rotations on the neighbor islands to coordinate care, address gaps in needed services, and reduce the need for neighbor island residents to travel to receive care. This care is often provided in out-patient settings at organized ambulatory health care facilities, which allow providers from other areas to provide health care services to medically underserved residents. Your Committee believes that clarifying the requirements for physicians providing services at these facilities, particularly with respect to hospital privileges and patient transfers, will ensure patients on the neighbor islands receive timely access to health care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 799, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 799, 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,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair