STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1438

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   S.B. No. 62

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health & Homelessness and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 62, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Reestablish the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the John A. Burns School of Medicine for graduate medical education and training programs, expansion of medical residency and training, and medical residency and training opportunities in partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Association, Ahahui o nā Kauka, The Queen's Health System, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of the Attorney General.

 

     Your Committees find that many Hawaii residents are unable to obtain timely and appropriate health care due to shortages of health care providers in the State.  In particular, the State's neighbor islands, which have been designated by the federal government as medically underserved areas, have been disproportionately impacted by shortages of physicians in all practice areas.

 

     Your Committees further find that eighty percent of graduates of the John A. Burns School of Medicine who complete their medical school and residency in the State, also known as their graduate medical education, remain in Hawaii to practice.  Additionally, medical residents who train on the neighbor islands are more likely to remain and subsequently practice there.  Your Committees also find that ongoing funding of medical education is a matter of statewide concern and is vital to address the physician shortage in the State.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the funds appropriated shall be appropriated into and out of the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health & Homelessness and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 62, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 62, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 


 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health & Homelessness and Higher Education & Technology,

 

 

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair