STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1177

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 962

       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 H.B. No. 962 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the availability of kidney dialysis services in rural areas of the State. 

 

     The measure accomplishes this purpose by providing an appropriation as a chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, grant to the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation to support the modified home care and community health demonstration project.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Kidney Foundation, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in support of the overall concept of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the occurrence of chronic kidney disease has increased in recent years, especially in the native Hawaiian population.  More than ten per cent of Hawaii residents suffer from this disease.  Enabling residents of rural areas of the State to have easier access to preventative health care and dialysis treatment will greatly improve the quality of life for those suffering from chronic kidney disease.

 

     Your Committee amended this measure by inserting an appropriation amount of $1.

 

     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. 962, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 962, 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