HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

847

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to hawaii health systems corporation.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State faces a severe shortage of healthcare providers.  This shortage is particularly acute in the field of primary care, in which most healthcare cost savings result from prevention and early intervention.

     The legislature further finds that the Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program is an effective way to reduce the impact of the shortage of primary care providers and improve access to healthcare throughout the State.  Administered by Hilo medical center in coordination with the Hawaii health systems corporation regions, this interdisciplinary program includes: the Hawaii island family medicine residency program; training for advanced practice nurses from the school of nursing and dental hygiene at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the school of nursing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; clinical pharmacists from the University of Hawaii at Hilo's college of pharmacy; and post-doctoral fellows from I Ola Lahui, an organization that trains psychologists to meet the needs of residents of rural areas.

     The success of this program, which will be expanded to neighbor island health facilities, will generate interdisciplinary teams capable of caring for four times as many patients as independent practicing physicians.  Hawaii will benefit greatly as the Hawaii health systems corporation regions' program will eliminate the need to train or attract unattainably high numbers of physicians.

     The legislature also finds that the average incremental cost of each resident in the program is $150,000, and that four new residents will join the training program in July 2015.  Additionally, the legislature finds that the increased funding for the program provided by this Act over previous appropriations and funding requests will cover costs related to the new residents and ultimately financially stabilize the program.

     The purpose of this Act is to address the shortage of primary care providers in the State by appropriating funds for the interdisciplinary Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at Hilo medical center.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 for the interdisciplinary Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at Hilo medical center.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,700,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the interdisciplinary Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at Hilo medical center.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Primary Care Training Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Addresses primary care physician shortages by appropriating funds for the interdisciplinary Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at Hilo Medical Center.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.