STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3373

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 607

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 607, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Administrator, State Health Planning & Development Agency

G.M. No. 607

JOHN (JACK) LEWIN, for a term to expire 12-07-2026,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by John (Jack) Lewin for service as the Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency administratively attached to the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of John (Jack) Lewin from the Department of Health; Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Aging; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Ohana Health Plan, Inc.; AlohaCare; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Health Information Exchange; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Hawaii Medical Association; Liberty Dialysis-Hawaii; and seventeen individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Lewin's medical training, extensive and diverse knowledge in health care management through his over thirty years of experience in the health care sector in various capacities, and commitment to universal access to quality health care qualify him to be nominated for appointment as the Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA).

Dr. Lewin has been serving as the Interim Administrator of SHPDA since April 2023, charged with the development of a state health system reform plan and implementation strategy to achieve universal access, improved quality of care, patient and population outcomes, equity, and sustainable and affordable health care costs. Dr. Lewin earned his bachelor's degree in biological science from the University of California, Irvine, and his medical degree from the University of Southern California. Thereafter, he joined the United States Public Health Service and spent seven years serving as the Commissioned Officer and Director of the Navajo Area Indian Health Service in Window Rock, Arizona. From there, Dr. Lewin entered private practice, providing care to the rural communities of Maui, where he eventually became the Chief Physician at Kula Hospital and Director of Kula Clinic for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

From 1987 to 1994, Dr. Lewin served as the Director of Health, during which he served as the State's Chief Physician, Chief Public Health Officer, and Chief Environmental Officer. As head of the Department of Health, Dr. Lewin managed approximately six thousand five hundred employees, a budget of over $1,000,000,000, and approximately eighty statewide public health, primary care, mental health, substance abuse and environmental health programs, and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the State's largest hospital system with thirteen facilities and two thousand inpatient acute and long-term beds. Dr. Lewin also spearheaded many innovative public health programs, making great strides in providing greater access to health care for the residents of Hawaii. Dr. Lewin's professional experience also includes serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation from 2013 to 2017, a non-profit foundation that is highly respected as the most prominent global leader in clinical trials and preclinical research, and a combined sixteen years of experience as the Chief Executive Officer of two of the nation's most prestigious medical societies - the American College of Cardiology from 2006 to 2012, and the California Medical Association from 1995 to 2006. Dr. Lewin also founded and served as the Principal for Lewin and Associates LLC, a health innovation and health management consulting firm focused on value-based care, population health, and health access until April 2023.

Testimony submitted in support of Dr. Lewin's appointment speak to his expertise in medicine, ability to bring stakeholders together, experience in health innovations, knowledge of health policy at the state and federal levels, and experience as an administrator and leader. Testimony submitted by the Department of Health attest that during his tenure as its Director, the State was recognized as the "Health State" for the high quality of healthcare, access to insurance, and some of the longest life spans and quality of life years in the country, and also praise his professional experience after leaving the State, including his contributions to federal health policy leadership, professional advocacy, medical research and quality improvement, health information technology, and market-based innovation.

Your Committee further finds that Dr. Lewin's knowledge of Hawaii's culture and experience in the local health care sector at various levels, including physician, clinic, hospital, government, and public health, will invigorate SHPDA's leadership to assure an affordable, accessible, and high quality public health and health care system for future generations. Your Committee therefore recommends that John (Jack) Lewin be appointed as Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to universal access to high-quality, equitable, and affordable health care for all residents of the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair