Dear Friends:

It is an honor to work on health care reform for the State of Hawaii. As the Legislature's only physician, I have been working to show my colleagues where we can best focus our attention in providing affordable, accessible, quality health-care for all of Hawaii's residents.

Warmly,
Josh Green, M.D.
State Representative
6th District

TOPICS OF INTEREST

• Prescriptive Authority - Psychologists
  Representative Green is well aware of the need for mental health services in Hawaii's rural, medically underserved areas. The lack of psychiatrists makes it extremely difficult for mental health patients to receive adequate care. To address this concern, he has introduced House Bill No. 2589, H.D. 2, which would have established prescriptive certificates that allow psychologists practicing at federally qualified health centers or in certain underserved areas to prescribe psychotropic medications. However, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• Children's Health Care
  Ensuring the health and welfare of our keiki is one of Representative Green's highest priorities. Unfortunately, many of our children live each and every day without adequate health care insurance. House Bill No. 3116, C.D. 1, creates a three-year pilot program involving a public-private partnership that provides health care coverage for uninsured children who are ineligible for other state or federal health care programs.
  
  
• Legacy Lands Act
  One of the unfortunate consequences of economic progress is development that encroaches on land that has historical, cultural, or conservational significance. This is why Representative Green was a firm supporter of last session's Legacy Lands Act, which provided a funding mechanism to enable government and nonprofit entities to purchase and protect important lands that may otherwise be exploited for commercial purposes.
  
  
• Shelters for Homeless Veterans
  Representative Green believes that more should be done to support those who have risked their lives to defend our country. To assist veterans who have encountered the most difficulties in adjusting to life outside the military, he has introduced House Bill No. 2934 which would have authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund shelters for homeless veterans. However, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• Tobacco Tax - Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native Hawaiian Programs
  Representative Green believes that taxes collected on cigarettes should be used to support critical health care facilities and programs. To establish this linkage, he has introduced House Bill No. 1992, H.D. 1, which would have increased the cigarette tax to fund the maintenance and operation of federally qualified community health centers and to fund native Hawaiian programs providing treatments for smoking cessation and prevention. Although this measure failed to gain legislative approval, a similar bill, Senate Bill No. 2961, C.D. 1, has been passed by the Legislature.
  
  
• Hurricane Preparedness - Hospital Facilities
  Representative Green recognizes the importance of being prepared before an emergency occurs. In the event of a natural disaster, our medical facilities must remain functional to attend to the injured survivors. House Bill No. 3123, H.D. 1, would have provided funding for a study to assess the structural integrity of each hospital and nursing home facility to determine their ability to withstand hurricanes. However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.

NEWS AND EVENTS

• March 31, 2006. National consultant to present analysis of a single payer health care system in Hawaii. (More)
  
  
• March 11, 2006. A Circle Island Tour/Talk Story session with legislators from the Big Island was held on this date. The schedule was as follows:
  
  7:30a.m. - 8:30a.m. - U.H. Hilo (UCB 127)
  9:00a.m. - 10:00a.m. - Kea'au Elementary School Cafetorium
  11:30a.m. - 12:30p.m. - Honaunau Elementary School Cafetorium
  2:30p.m. - 3:30p.m. - Waimea Senior Center
  4:00p.m. - 5:00p.m. - Honokaa High School Cafetorium
  
  
• Feb. 27, 2006. TALK STORY with Dr. Josh Green was held on Feb. 27, 2006. See here for full details of this community event.