STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1044

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 847

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address primary care physician shortages by appropriating funds for the interdisciplinary Hawaii Health Systems Corporation primary care training program at Hilo Medical Center.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Hawaii Fire Department; Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Hilo Medical Center Foundation; Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii; Hawaii Island Healthcare Alliance; United Public Workers, Local 646; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Medical Association; The Queen's Health Systems; Zonta Club of Hilo; Hospice of Hilo; and sixty-seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State faces a severe shortage of healthcare providers.  This shortage is particularly acute in the field of primary care, in which most healthcare cost savings result from prevention and early intervention.  The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation primary care training program is an effective way to reduce the impact of the shortage of primary care providers and improve access to healthcare throughout the State.  Administered by Hilo Medical Center in coordination with the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation regions, this interdisciplinary program will generate interdisciplinary teams capable of caring for four times as many patients as independent practicing physicians.  Hawaii will benefit greatly as the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation regions' program will eliminate the need to train or attract an unattainable number of physicians.

 

     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. 847, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair