STAND. COM. REP. NO. 501

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1817

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

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. 1817 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PALLIATIVE CARE RESOURCES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to make various appropriations for the provision of palliative care.

 

     Specifically, the measure appropriates:

 

     (1)  $60,000 for each year of the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium to integrate palliative care into long-term care settings;

 

     (2)  $75,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008, and $50,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009, to implement statewide physician orders for life-sustaining treatment;

 

     (3)  $75,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008, and $50,000 in fiscal year 2008-2009, to implement a hospice and palliative care resource center demonstration project; and

 

     (4)  $15,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 to implement a statewide assessment of benchmark indicators to follow up on surveys dealing with end of life issues and indicators.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawaii Long Term Care Association; Hawaii Family Forum; Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii; Hawaiian Islands Hospice Organization; Hospice Hawaii; Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Kōkua Mau; and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that skilled and empathetic palliative and end-of-life care are essential components of quality long-term care.  This measure would be of immeasurable value to providers of palliative care and those to whom they minister.  Partnering to optimize palliative care competency in long-term care settings and having available a hospice and palliative care resource center, augment the concept of "qualify of care, quality of life."

 

     Hawaii citizens have the longest life expectancy in the nation, and the fastest growing population of elders.  The rapidly aging community forces the State to confront and address the challenge of providing the best end-of-life care to elders.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the amount appropriated, but recommends to the Committee on Ways and Means that the original amounts be appropriated.

 

     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. 1817, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1817, 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair