THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

59

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

requesting a review of the health care needs of west maui residents.

 

WHEREAS, in 1995 the Department of Accounting and General services published a feasibility study titled: "West Maui Acute Care Feasibility Study" whose objectives were to:

(1) Determine if an acute care facility is needed in West Maui;

(2) Explore alternative solutions to addressing acute care needs in West Maui; and

(3) Prepare a report documenting the findings and/or recommendations of the study;

and

WHEREAS, that study concluded that developing an acute care facility in West Maui would have the effect of diluting limited public funds, as well as, physician and staff specialties now concentrated at Maui Memorial Hospital and that this could threaten the long term viability of that institution (Maui Memorial), which has a proven track record of delivering acute secondary services to Maui Island, Molokai, and Lanai; and

WHEREAS, the study further reported that "the perceived needs of the West Maui health care community as expressed [by its healthcare professionals were] focused on primary care for under served populations and lack of service coordination among existing providers"; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that most of the data analyzed in that study and from which its conclusions were derived appear to hold true today including data relating to utilization of services, falling reimbursement rates, and challenging medical staffing availability on Maui; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii’s "State Health Policy Guidebook" identifies Maui County health priorities as: (1) behavioral health services; (2) emergency medical services; (3) child protective services; (4) dental services; and (5) medical services for the uninsured; and

WHEREAS, the location and development of health services are based on an analysis of health care incidence rates, population demographics, quality of care issues, and other national health care standards; and

WHEREAS, recently there has been renewed interest in West Maui health care needs as evidenced by letters from community members; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the State Health Planning and Development Agency review the health care needs of West Maui in partnership with the Department of Health Emergency Medical Services System Branch, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Maui Memorial Medical Center; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Health Planning and Development Agency shall submit its report, including findings and conclusions, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the beginning of the 2003 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the head of the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Maui Memorial Medical Center.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

SHPDA Review of Health Care Needs in West Maui