STAND. COM. REP. NO. 398

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 852

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 852 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the availability of medical care on the island of Hawaii.

 

     Specifically, this measure charges the Department of Health with establishing a pilot program in cooperation with emergency medical services, the Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and community clinics in the Ocean View and Volcano communities of the island of Hawaii to provide additional urgent care services and appropriates an unspecified amount of money in each year of the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium for that purpose.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the mayor of the County of Hawaii.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that the island of Hawaii is experiencing a health care crisis, due largely in part to its rural nature.  The proposed pilot program will assess the efficacy of alternative service delivery, such as mobile medical vans, determine the availability of staff, assess feasibility and cost-benefit rations, recommend appropriate legislation, and involve the appropriate community stakeholders in addressing the urgent care needs of these communities.  Your Committee finds this pilot program is necessary to determine the best way to meet the health and medical needs of the Ocean View and Volcano residents.

 

     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. 852 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair