STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3059

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 88
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.C.R. No. 88 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     HEALTH TO IMPROVE STATEWIDE DIABETES AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
     AND EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR
     FREE EARLY DETECTION SCREENING FOR DIABETES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Health (DOH) to improve statewide diabetes awareness and
education, and examine the possibility of establishing a program
for free early detection screening for diabetes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the DOH, Hawaii Association of Diabetes Educators, Hawaii
Medical Association, and a private individual.

     Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in Hawaii.
Diabetes is a manageable disease once detected, and early
detection would prevent the many debilitating effects of this
disease such as blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure,
limb amputation, and nerve damage.  Uncontrolled diabetes can
complicate a pregnancy and cause birth defects.

     Your Committee has amended this measure on the
recommendation of the DOH by:


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3059
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     (1)  Adding a WHEREAS clause stating that health plans do
          not cover free early detection screening for diabetes;

     (2)  Requesting the DOH to convene a task force of health
          plans, QUEST, and the Hawaii State Primary Care
          Association to address early detection and screening
          and changing the title to reflect this request; and

     (3)  Adding the Insurance Commissioner and health insurers
          as recipients of the certified copies of the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.C.R. No. 88, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 88, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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