HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

236

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DIrector of Health to convene a temporary task force to examine all relevant issues, other than medical malpractice LIABILITY AND insurance premiums, that may contribute to the exodus of physicians from the State.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, there has been widespread coverage in the local media that many of Hawaii's physicians, particularly specialists, have chosen to leave the State for various reasons; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature is very much aware of this trend and of the assertions that medical malpractice liability and costly medical malpractice insurance premiums are contributing to this trend; and

 

     WHEREAS, the issue of medical malpractice insurance premiums remains a topic of serious, extensive, and ongoing discussions within the Legislature; and

 

     WHEREAS, however, the Legislature also wishes to uncover and address additional potential reasons for the departure of physicians from the State to fashion a more comprehensive approach to the problem; and

 

     WHEREAS, for example, the State's geographic isolation as the nation's only island state located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean may act as a relative barrier to easy interstate migration of professionals, including physicians; and

 

     WHEREAS, the issue of an alleged monopolistic underwriting structure for reimbursement for physicians in the State has been raised as a problem; and

 

     WHEREAS, the high cost of living in the State affects everyone, including physicians earning relatively higher incomes; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the State to attain a thorough understanding of the issues that may contribute to the exodus of physicians from Hawaii to better fashion a comprehensive and effective solution; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Director of Health is requested to convene a temporary task force to examine all relevant issues, other than medical malpractice liability and insurance premiums, and that may contribute to the exodus of physicians from the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health is requested to include on the temporary task force:

 

     (1)  The Insurance Commissioner;

 

     (2)  The Director of Human Services;

 

     (3)  Physicians;

 

     (4)  A representative of the health insurance industry;

 

     (5)  A representative of mutual benefit societies;

 

     (6)  A representative of health maintenance organizations;

 

     (7)  A representative of the general public; and

 

     (8)  Any other members the Director of Health deems advisable; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health is requested to convene the task force no later than July 1, 2007 and to terminate the task force on June 30, 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health is requested to submit findings and recommendations, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health who, in turn, is requested to notify physicians and representatives of the health insurance industry, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations, and to the Director of Human Services, and the Insurance Commissioner.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

DOH Task Force; Issues Causing Physicians to Leave Hawaii