STAND. COM. REP. NO.  196-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2665

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2665 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STROKE TREATMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the development of stroke treatment capabilities to support stroke survival throughout the State by:

 

(1)  Establishing a statewide stroke system of care by designating primary stroke centers and acute stroke capable centers;

 

(2)  Defining emergency services training and transport protocols;

 

(3)  Establishing a stroke registry working group;

 

(4)  Requiring health insurance coverage for telemedicine services; and

 

(5)  Establishing a stroke system of care task force.

 

     The Department of Health and American Heart Association testified in support of the intent of the measure.  The Queen's Medical Center, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus commented on the measure.

 

     Your Committee recognizes the stroke treatment, prevention, and education services and capabilities provided in the State by the Queen's Medical Center, which is currently the only Joint Commission-certified primary stroke center in the State.  It is your Committee's intent that this bill not impede the services provided by the Stroke Center at the Queen's Medical Center, but rather strengthen the system of stroke care throughout all areas of the state.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting all references relating to health insurance coverage for telemedicine; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, 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 H.B. No. 2665, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2665, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair