Report Title:

Community Health Centers; Funding

Description:

Appropriates funds to community health centers. (SB1519 HD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1519

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that community health centers and clinics provide much-needed, high quality primary health care services to Hawaii's rural communities. Such facilities include the Hana Community Health Center and Community Clinic of Maui; the Hamakua Health Center and Bay Clinic on the island of Hawaii; and Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Queen Emma Clinics, and the Kalihi-Palama, Waikiki, Waimanalo, and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Centers on Oahu. Residents, neighbor island visitors, and tourists statewide rely on community health centers to provide a wide array of medical services in rural communities.

Community health centers are safety net providers of quality primary care services, on a sliding fee scale, to all, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. To cover the operational costs of providing quality care, community health centers generally rely on funding from a number of sources, including the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care and other federal agencies, the State, and private grants.

The funding for community health centers has decreased and the number of uninsured patients has increased. Community health centers are forced to absorb the cost of care provided to the uninsured, and medicaid reimbursement rates only cover a fraction of the actual cost of care. Some community health centers have eliminated services, and some are in danger of closing their emergency rooms or limiting their hours.

The legislature finds that expenditures from the emergency budget and reserve fund established by section 328L-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are needed to meet the conditions of emergency, economic downturn, and unforeseen reduction in revenues that presently confront the State. The expenditures are necessary to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare consistent with the purposes of the emergency budget and reserve fund.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for community health centers and clinics.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the emergency budget and reserve fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for services and operating expenditures provided by community health centers that provide quality primary care services on a sliding fee scale to all individuals, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.