STAND. COM. REP. NO.  720

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 367

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 367 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that referrals to appropriate alcohol and drug abuse screening and counseling are offered to patients in primary care or emergency room settings when they are suspected by physicians to be at risk for, or diagnosed with, alcohol or other substance use disorders.

 

     More specifically, the bill:

 

     (1)  Requires physicians to offer a screening and counseling referral to patients suspected of alcohol or drug abuse;

 

     (2)  Directs the University of Hawaii to develop and implement a pilot program at a medical facility for screening, brief intervention, and referral to substance abuse treatment; and

 

     (3)  Appropriates funds to implement the pilot program.

 

     The Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and a private citizen submitted testimony in support of the bill.  The Office of the Lieutenant Governor supported the intent of the bill.

 

     Your Committee finds that medical personnel in emergency rooms and trauma centers have successfully implemented similar programs in other states.  Your Committee further finds that this evidence-based, cost effective approach to substance abuse treatment has shown dramatic reductions in alcohol and other drug use among patients receiving services.

 

     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 H.B. No. 367 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair