Bill Text: HI HB902 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Hawaii Health Corps; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2012-04-13 - (H) Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 747). [HB902 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB902-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1098

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 902

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 902, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to help Hawaii residents obtain adequate and timely health care by addressing some of the factors that lead to shortages of primary health care providers in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes the Hawaii Health Corps program, under the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, to encourage physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to work in a county having a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with priority given to a rural area;

 

     (2)  Creates the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program, to repay educational loans of Hawaii Health Corps program participants, and which shall be administered by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene;

 

     (3)  Creates the Hawaii Health Corps revolving fund to be expended for the operational expenses of the Hawaii Health Corps program;

 

     (4)  Appropriates funds to, among other things, implement and administer the Hawaii Health Corps program; and

 

     (5)  Appropriates funds to support the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene accreditation efforts and support and expand residency programs, particularly in family medicine.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Virginia S. Hinshaw, Chancellor, and Jerris Hedges, Dean, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Eldon L. Wegner, Ph.D., Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Dr. Morris Mitsunaga, President, Hawaii Medical Association; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Jackie Berry, Executive Director, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies; Hardy Spoehr, Executive Director, Papa Ola Lokahi; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from Kalbert K. Young, Director, Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that many Hawaii residents, particularly those that live in rural communities, are medically underserved.  Physician and nurse practitioner salaries in rural areas are often lower than in other urban areas, which contributes to a shortage of health care providers willing to locate in these areas.

 

Shortages of primary health care providers in the State, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, threaten the health of Hawaii's residents and ultimately lead to increased health care costs.  This measure provides incentives for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to serve in medically underserved populations, ensuring that Hawaii residents are able to receive adequate and timely health care.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 902, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair