STAND. COM. REP. NO. 219

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 277

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 277 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE COORDINATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the public-private partnership established for administrative purposes to implement a model of healthcare delivery in Maui county that addresses coordination of care in a seamless, efficient, appropriate, and cost-effective manner.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hale Makua Health Services, Hale Mahaolu, Maui Memorial Medical Center, Wailea Golf LLC, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 Hawaii, United Public Workers Local 646, and sixty-five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that healthcare delivery in Maui county faces challenges related to census issues, wait-list lengths, and finances.  More specifically, Maui Memorial Medical Center is the only acute care hospital on the island and often exceeds its capacity resulting in back-ups in the emergency room due to lack of beds or inability to transport patients to Honolulu.  In addition, subacute patients often stay in the hospital longer than necessary, which results in emergency room patients being held in the emergency room and surgical procedures being cancelled to eliminate the need for beds.  These wait list issues result in delayed care of patients for the entire island of Maui.

 

     Your Committee further finds that a study conducted by Maui Memorial and Hale Makua showed that thirty-six percent of the wait list is related to financial issues.  This population includes the uninsured, homeless, and individuals who are Medicaid ineligible.  Your Committee notes that the cost to the State of the existing wait list is significant.  It costs $1,500 per day for healthcare delivery to a wait listed patient, while the cost of a patient at Hale Makua is about $300 to $500 per day.  Your Committee finds that this measure provides a cost-effective investment in the healthcare system on the Island of Maui.  Providing funds will strengthen the existing partnership between Hale Makua Health Services and Maui Memorial Medical Center.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

 

     (2)  Making the appropriation for the purposes of soliciting proposals to reduce the wait list at Maui Memorial Medical Center, improve the quality of care, and reduce state subsidies to Maui Memorial Medical Center related to wait list issues.

 

     Your Committee notes that although the appropriation has been removed, the recommended appropriation for the public-private partnership is $1,500,000 per fiscal year.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 277, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 277, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair