HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

782

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

 

 

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

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a cardiac care unit is needed in Hawaii county as county residents suffering from heart problems or strokes are often airlifted to Oahu or Maui to receive critical medical care.  Because an individual suffering from cardiac complications must receive interventional care within two hours to recover completely, by the time the individual is evaluated and airlifted to Oahu or Maui, oftentimes much more than two hours has elapsed, increasing the risk that the patient may not fully recover.  Thus, there is a need for a new facility that can serve patients in need of cardiac care in Hawaii county.

     The legislature further finds that there are options to use additional, unused land adjacent to the Kona community hospital to build a hybrid catheterization lab and operating room or convert an existing operating room into a hybrid catheterization lab and operating room, which could perform stents and ablations and treat strokes, and thereby save lives and result in better outcomes and quality of life for cardiac patients.

     The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii health systems corporation to improve the health care services related to cardiac care at Kona community hospital.

     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 2018-2019 to the Hawaii health systems corporation to improve the health care services at Kona community hospital; provided that:

     (1)  $        may be used to construct a hybrid catheterization lab and operating room, including any necessary renovations or remodeling to existing facilities to accommodate the catheterization lab equipment; and

     (2)  $         per year may be used to provide stipends of $         for two on-call or visiting cardiologists at Kona community hospital.

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

PART II

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321-     District health officer; physician.  Each district health officer of the department of health may be a physician licensed to practice medicine under part I of chapter 453.  To the extent practicable, the physician should have experience in public health, primary care, emergency room services, epidemiology, or tropical medicine."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.



 

Report Title:

Department of Health; District Health Officers; Physicians; Kona Community Hospital; Cardiac Care; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to improve the health care services related to cardiac care at Kona Community Hospital.  Funds may be used for the construction of a hybrid catheterization lab and operating room and funding of cardiology staff positions to alleviate the lack of cardiac care.  Permits the Department of Health to hire physicians to serve as district health officers.  (HB782 HD1)

 

 

 

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