STAND. COM. REP. NO.2843

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2512

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2512 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICES SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Public Health Nursing Services Special Fund to support case management services for medically fragile children under the age of twenty-one with complex medical conditions.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and several registered nurses working with medically fragile children.

Your Committee finds that there is a critical need for comprehensive case management services for medically fragile children and their families, due to the present lack of coordinated service delivery and the complex nature of these children's conditions and treatment. Your Committee agrees that the establishment of the Public Health Nursing special fund will allow for a dedicated source of funds to support case management services for these complex cases, and thereby ensure that the families, medical providers, and others are working together in a collaborative and coordinated manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing from the definition of "case management services" the reference to the early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2002; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2512, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2512, 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 and Human Services,

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair