STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3486

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 40

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 40, S.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND DESIGNATING THE HAWAII HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE AS THE ONLY FULLY OPERATIONAL, STATEWIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE OPERATING IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize and designate the Hawaii Health Information Exchange as the only fully operational, statewide health information exchange operating in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Healthcare Transformation Coordinator of the Office of the Governor, and the Hawaii Health Information Exchange.

     Your Committee notes that the Hawaii Health Information Exchange is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2006 by Hawaii's leading health care stakeholders to improve health care delivery across Hawaii through the seamless, effective, safe, and secure transmission of healthcare-related data.  The Hawaii Health Information Exchange has utilized existing infrastructure to assist health care providers with the electronic exchange of patient health information through a secure mechanism in compliance with federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, as the exclusive service provider designated to work with the State, has served as a conduit between health care providers and the State for public health reporting and has been successful in advancing and supporting health information exchange needs in Hawaii.  There is a need for continuing this working relationship to sustain crucial services.

Your Committee further finds that the designation of the Hawaii Health Information Exchange as the only fully operational statewide health information exchange in Hawaii will encourage the continued advancement of health care transformation initiatives throughout the State, including the mutual goal of the Hawaii Health Information Exchange and the State to provide the real-time exchange of electronic patient data statewide.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 40, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair