HI HCR227

Create a 16-member Hawaii Diabetes Task Force within the Department of Health comprising state officials, university representatives, and health organizations.

Task force shall develop and recommend legislation, research best practices from other states, create public awareness campaigns, establish a central testing website, and work with schools on public service announcements addressing diabetes prevention.

Task force must meet at least monthly from July 2012 through November 2012 and report findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than 20 days before each regular session.

Task force shall explore options to revise Medicare and Medicaid Services licensure and certification policies for new dialysis and diabetes prevention centers.

More than 110,000 persons in Hawaii have diabetes, with approximately 39,000 undiagnosed; diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Hawaii and contributes to kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.