STAND. COM. REP. NO.  420-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1616

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 1616 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve health outcomes for the people of Hawaii by updating the Hawaii State Planning Act's objectives for health to include a commitment to eliminating health disparities.  Specifically, this bill updates the objectives to:

     (1)  Explicitly address social determinants of health to reflect the latest medical findings relating to the health needs of Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos; and

     (2)  Prioritize programs, services, interventions, and activities that address identified social determinants of health to reduce health disparities experienced by these groups.

 

     The Office of Language Access, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Primary Care Association, HealthyPacific.Org, The Queen's Health Systems, Kokua Kalihi Valley, COFA-Community Advocacy Network, Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

 

     The World Health Organization, the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2020, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all recognize social determinants of health as the single most important factor in individual and population health outcomes, more so than genetic disposition or medical care.  In a 2013 report titled, Assessment and Priorities for Health & Well-Being in Native Hawaiians & Other Pacific Peoples, the John A. Burns School of Medicine identified a number of social and other determinants of health for Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos, who collectively continue to have disparate health outcomes compared to the rest of the state population. 

 

     Your Committee believes that updating the Hawaii State Planning Act's objectives for health to include the elimination of health disparities and reducing these health disparities through a social determinants of health approach may directly and indirectly improve health outcomes and the quality of life for Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, and all residents of the State.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1616 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair