STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3440

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1550

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. 1550, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII MEDICAL EDUCATION SPECIAL FUND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund to be administered by the John A. Burns School of Medicine for graduate medical education and training programs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association. 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 health care providers in the State. The Hawaii Medical Education Council (Council) is tasked with monitoring the State's graduate medical education programs, physician residency and fellowship training, and their ability to meet the health care workforce requirements. The Council also must ensure adequate funding of health care training programs, particularly graduate medical education. Your Committees find that ongoing funding of graduate medical education is vital to addressing the physician shortage in the State. This measure establishes the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund to provide funding for graduate medical education in the State which will provide a stand alone source of funds to promote the State's efforts to create, attract, and retain qualified health care providers.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 1550, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1550, 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