STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2186

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2285

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2285 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the functions and duties of the State Health Planning and Development Agency; and

(2) Appropriate moneys for administrative costs and to establish positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Department of Human Services, State Health Planning and Development Agency, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Health Information Exchange, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and four individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that access to high-quality, equitable, and affordable health and long-term care services remain a challenge for many of Hawaii's residents. The State Health Planning and Development Agency was established in 1975 to produce a State Health Services and Facilities Plan and to manage the State's Certificate of Need program. However, the State Health Planning and Development Agency has experienced severe staffing shortages and decreases in funding, inhibiting the Agency's ability to effectively accomplish its mandate. By modernizing the State Health Planning and Development Agency's functions and responsibilities, this measure will enable the State to effectively provide quality health care to residents of the State at a reasonable cost.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "health care" to include oral health, behavioral health, and long-term care;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2285, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2285, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair