STAND. COM. REP. NO.387

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 844

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 844 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR MOLOKAI GENERAL HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for the operating costs of Molokai General Hospital.

Your Committee received testimony supporting this measure from the Molokai General Hospital, and Mayor of Maui County.

Your Committee finds that Molokai General Hospital is the only hospital on the island of Molokai and serves approximately 7,500 residents. Molokai General Hospital has been financially supported primarily through subsidies from its parent organization, Queen's Health Systems. The State has also provided financial support through an annual subsidy. Unfortunately, Queen's Health Systems, along with other entities throughout the State, has been seriously affected by the slumping economy. As a result, Molokai General Hospital's subsidies have decreased drastically and its level of services may be reduced.

Of special note is Lamalama Ka 'Ili Community Health Services of Molokai General Hospital. Lamalama Ka 'Ili offers intensive diabetes care management, a hospice program that provides end-of-life care for cancer patients and their families, and numerous other health and wellness programs, unduplicated on the island. Your Committee notes that testimony was submitted for S.B. No. 838 by the Maui County Mayor, a Maui Council member, Papa Ola Lokahi, and Molokai General Hospital in support of Lamalama Ka 'Ili Community Health Services programs.

Your Committee believes that if the State does not provide an appropriation for Molokai General Hospital to maintain these services, the health and welfare of the residents of Molokai are in jeopardy. Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by adding the contents of S.B. No. 838, which provides an appropriation for Lamalama Ka 'Ili Community Health Services programs and general operating costs.

Your Committee finds that this measure, as amended, is necessary for Molokai General Hospital to maintain its level of services and for the State to secure the health and welfare of the residents of Molokai.

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. 844, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 844, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair