STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1006-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2544

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2544, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a two-year Essential Medical Air Transport Pilot Project to make chartered plane seats available to patients and medical insurers to consistently and dependably transport residents of certain medically underserved rural communities to an urban island for medical care.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from ʻAhahui o nā Kauka; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health; Molokaʻi Drugs, Inc.; Hawaii Medical Service Association; The Queen's Health System; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services; Department of Health; and AlohaCare.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2544, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair