THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1235

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

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

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Appropriate funds to the Hawaii health systems corporation to improve the health care services related to cardiac care at Hilo medical center; and

     (2)  Require the Auditor to audit contracts over $1,000,000 that the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services have entered into with domestic violence nonprofit organizations.

     SECTION 2.  The legislature finds that a cardiac care unit is needed in Hawaii county as the county's residents suffering from heart problems or strokes are often airlifted to Oahu or Maui to receive critical medical care.  An individual suffering from cardiac complications must receive interventional care within two hours in order to recover completely.  An evaluation and airlift to Oahu or Maui, however, can take much more than two hours, increasing the risk that the patient may not fully recover.

     The legislature further finds that while there are barriers to offering interventional cardiology for heart attack treatment to Hawaii county residents, Hilo medical center has reduced many of these barriers.  This has been done through the acquisition and installation of cardiac imaging equipment and software, as well as establishing cardiology clinic infrastructure designed for up to three cardiologists and supporting providers.  Because cardiac interventions are complicated procedures, it is important that Hilo medical center receives support in order to expand its offering of interventional cardiology for heart attack treatment, and thereby continue to save lives and improve the quality of life for cardiac patients.

     SECTION 3.  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 Hilo medical center; provided that the funds shall be used for the following:

     (1)  Costs associated with recruiting and employing two additional cardiologists while they establish their invasive cardiology practice;

     (2)  Costs of support staff required to support the cardiology practice;

     (3)  Initial training of catheterization lab, intensive care unit, and radiology staff;

     (4)  Purchasing of inventory of medical devices and medications used for interventional cardiology procedures;

     (5)  Purchasing of medical equipment for the cardiac catheterization lab and intensive care unit;

     (6)  Purchasing of diagnostic laboratory equipment; and

     (7)  Initial costs of a certified lab technician.

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

PART II

     SECTION 4.  (a)  The auditor shall conduct an audit of each contract that the department of health or the department of human services has entered into with domestic violence nonprofit organizations in the past        years.  The audits shall focus on accountability and oversight of the state funding expended pursuant to each contract including:

     (1)  The percentage of total expenditures under each contract allocated for staff and administrative costs compared to the costs of providing services directly for domestic violence victims;

     (2)  Recommendations on department contracting practices to improve comprehensive care for domestic violence victims; and

     (3)  Recommendations on best contracting practices to increase efficiency by reducing staff and administrative expenditures so that more funds may be expended for the direct benefit of domestic violence victims.

     (b)  The office of the auditor shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.

PART III

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

Hilo Medical Center; Cardiac Care; Department of Human Services; Department of Health; Auditor; Domestic Violence Nonprofit Organizations; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to improve the health care services related to cardiac care at Hilo Medical Center.  Requires the Auditor to audit contracts over $1,000,000 that the Department of Health or the Department of Human Services entered into with domestic violence nonprofit organizations.  (SB1235 HD1)

 

 

 

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