STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3439

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1548

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) to expand medical school and residency training through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) graduate medical education programs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, The Queen's Health Systems, and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that there is a severe shortage of physicians and other health care providers in the State. These shortages threaten the health of citizens and adversely affect the State's health care costs. Your Committees further find that there exists a strong collaboration between JABSOM and the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System. The VA health system currently invests in Hawaii-based residency positions using federal funds. With additional faculty members, the capacity to train additional Hawaii-based residents through the VA program will enable JABSOM to expand the number of residency rotations and create new training opportunities. This measure appropriates funds to expand medical school and residency training through the VA medical education programs.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Higher Education,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair