STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2238-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 149

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 149, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH AN INFORMAL WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS THE SERVICES AND FUNDING NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF COMPLEX PATIENTS WHO HAVE TWO OR MORE DIAGNOSES THAT INCLUDE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, OR CHRONIC PHYSICAL ILLNESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Health to assess the services and funding necessary to address the needs of complex patients who have two or more diagnoses that include substance use disorders, mental health disorders, or chronic physical illnesses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Aloha House, Inc.; and Hina Mauka.

Your Committee finds that complex patients with co‑occurring substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and chronic physical illnesses represent a high‑need, high-cost population that experiences poor health outcomes and disproportionately high utilization of emergency, hospital, justice, and social service systems. Your Committee further finds that fragmented and siloed care structures hinder effective treatment, while evidence‑based, integrated models that simultaneously address medical, behavioral, and social needs are associated with improved engagement, reduced relapse and hospitalization, and better long‑term recovery outcomes amongst this population. Accordingly, your Committee supports requesting the Department of Health to convene a working group to assess service gaps, funding needs, and opportunities to advance integrated care approaches for complex patients statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making a technical amendment to its title; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 149, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 149, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair