STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3143

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1616

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1616, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to add to the Hawaii State Planning Act's objectives and policies for health the identification of social determinants of health to reduce health disparities among Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Community Services; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; The Queen's Health Systems; Kaiser Permanente; Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies; Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training; Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services; Hoola Lahui Hawaii; I Ola Lahui, Inc.; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Community Alliance for Mental Health; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; HealthyPacific.Org; Filipino American Citizens League; Foundation for the Advancement of Native Hawaiian Males; Waimanalo Health Center; Papa Ola Lokahi; National Federation of Filipino American Associations; and twenty-five individuals.

 

     According to a 2013 report issued by the John A. Burns School of Medicine, your Committees find that Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos have disparate health outcomes compared to the rest of the State's population.  These health disparities are correlated with social determinants of health such as housing, education, social services, and culture.  By incentivizing state agencies to identify and address social determinants of health for Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos, this measure will improve the health and well-being of these communities while minimizing state health care costs.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting language clarifying that the intent of this measure is to codify a commitment by the State to address the health status of Native Hawaiians and provide Native Hawaiian health care programs with necessary resources, which is consistent with the commitment made by the federal government in title 42 United States Code section 11702;

 

     (2)  Inserting additional language into section 226-20(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the Hawaii State Planning Act and health policy, to clarify that the State's policy on health includes prioritizing programs, services, interventions, and activities that address identified social determinants of health to improve Native Hawaiian health and well-being, consistent with federal policy codified in title 42 United States Code section 11702;

 

     (3)  Inserting language into section 226-20(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the Hawaii State Planning Act and health policy, to clarify that the prioritization of disproportionately affected demographic groups other than Native Hawaiians may be reviewed every ten years and revised based on the best available epidemiological and public health data;

 

     (4)  Making the measure effective upon its approval; and

 

     (5)  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 Hawaiian Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1616, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1616, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health,

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair

 

____________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair