STAND. COM. REP. 1010

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1243

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1243, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure cost-effective health care for the uninsured by appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for community-based health care providers to provide medical, dental, and mental health services and purchase prescription drugs.

Papa Ola Lokahi, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center testified in support of this measure. DOH opposed this measure.

The number of uninsured is increasing in Hawaii, resulting in more demands being placed on the community health centers to provide primary care. Your Committee finds that the appropriation amount required to fulfill the needs of the community health centers is $2,000,000.

 

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount to $1 to promote further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

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. 1243, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1243, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair