STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3894

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 173

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 173 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING MAUI HEALTH TO COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ESTABLISH A FULL-TIME MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Maui Health System to collaborate with stakeholders to establish a full-time medical residency program on the island of Maui.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing a significant shortage of primary care physicians and specialists, which disproportionately impacts rural areas and neighbor islands, including the island of Maui. Your Committee further finds that a full-time medical residency program is not currently available on Maui, exacerbating the physician shortage for the island. Your Committee additionally finds that Maui Health System is one of the largest health care providers on Maui and is the best positioned entity to collaborate with stakeholders to establish a full-time medical residency program on the island. This measure supports a sustainable, locally trained physician workforce and will improve health care equity for residents of Maui.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 173, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 173, S.D. 1.

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

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair