STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2398

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2374

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2374 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC SERVICES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to implement the recommendations of the working group convened pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 90 (Regular Session of 2016), by establishing and appropriating funds for a three-year community paramedic services pilot program, and requiring an evaluation of the pilot program.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, City and County of Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, American Medical Response, and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committees find that a high percentage of calls for emergency medical services are from callers who call multiple times per day for issues that do not require an emergency response.  Your Committees find that as emergency call volume continues to rise, a community paramedic system could address many of the non-emergency callers, thereby freeing up emergency medical services needed for other individuals experiencing actual emergencies.

 

     Your Committees also find that the working group convened pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 90 (Regular Session of 2016), recommended forming a community paramedic system to reduce emergency call volume and improve health in the State by addressing callers needing non-emergency destinations, post-hospital discharge care, hospice care, the homeless population, behavioral health, and other non-emergency health conditions.  Your Committees find that implementing the working group's recommendation with a pilot program, and requiring the Department of Health Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch to report on the status of the pilot program, will allow the Legislature to evaluate the effectiveness of a community paramedic system.  Your Committees find that a sunset date is appropriate to encourage review of the community paramedic system. 

 

     Your Committees also note for consideration by your Committee on Ways and Means that Kapiolani Community College will require additional funding for implementation of and training of necessary personnel for the pilot program.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2374 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Higher Education,

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair