STAND. COM. REP. NO.245

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1675

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1675 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update and streamline the certificate of need process for the purpose of efficiency and to ensure it remains a useful monitoring and planning tool in assuring that health care facilities provide needed, quality, and affordable services without being overly burdensome to new providers.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, and Queen's Development Corporation.

Your Committee finds that the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) and the certificate of need process and requirements set forth in part V of chapter 323D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, have played a key role in ensuring that health care facilities address the specific medical needs of Hawaii's residents and visitors. However, certain improvements are necessary to make them more efficient. Your Committee finds that this measure makes necessary and appropriate changes to the certificate of need process and SHPDA without compromising the quality of medical services provided in the State.

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 S.B. No. 1675 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair