STAND. COM. REP. NO.  179

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 709

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 709 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure continuous and effective access to primary and preventive health care for uninsured residents by appropriating funds to be distributed by the Department of Health (DOH) to nonprofit community-based health care providers to provide health care to the uninsured.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Community Clinic of Maui, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Waikiki Health Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Lanai Women's Center, Papa Ola Lokahi, Waimanalo Health Center, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  DOH opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committees find that it is vital that our community health center system is provided with the necessary support to continue their invaluable services.  However, as this bill moves through the legislative process it is important to consider including support for our Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems as well as the federally qualified health centers to ensure a strong health care safety net is in place.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 709 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair