THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3017

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

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

 


SECTION 1.  Hawaii has a shortage of physicians, compared to populations of a similar size and demographic found elsewhere in the United States.  Rising demand within the health care system of Hawaii due to population growth, aging, and the prevalence of chronic diseases calls for an increase in the existing physician base.  Studies of the physician workforce in Hawaii demonstrate extreme shortages of primary care specialties, most notably in rural areas.  Access to a personal physician is shown to decrease morbidity and mortality and to control health care costs.  Physician access promotes early detection and careful management of chronic diseases, deferral of unnecessary hospital admissions, and avoidance of unnecessary emergency department visits.

Despite this shortage, many medical students graduate with considerable educational debt and are obligated to choose a non-primary care specialty with higher compensation to repay their student loans.  In addition, many of the practicing physicians in Hawaii are approaching retirement age, suggesting a further contraction in the existing available physician workforce.  As the United States adopts an accountable care organization model largely built upon primary care providers, the competition to recruit new primary care providers will increase.  Financial support of a family medicine residency training program will enable the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to increase its number of resident positions as well as begin steps to implement a family medicine program on Kauai or in North Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to address the shortage of physicians in Hawaii, starting with family medicine primary care physicians for rural Oahu and neighbor island communities in the State, by making an appropriation for graduate medical education.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for medical resident positions in rural Oahu and neighbor island communities and the following associated costs:

     (1)  Increases in faculty and infrastructure of the existing University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Family Medicine Residency Program; and

     (2)  Development of new accredited family health centers in association with teaching hospitals.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

John A. Burns School of Medicine; Physician Shortage; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the John A. Burns School of Medicine to fund medical residency programs to help alleviate the shortage of primary care physicians in rural Oahu and neighbor island communities.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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