HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

255

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TEMPORARY TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE ALL RELEVANT ISSUES THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXODUS OF PHYSICIANS FROM HAWAII AND TO RECOMMEND WAYS TO RETAIN PHYSICIANS IN 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 issues of costly medical malpractice insurance premiums and medical tort reform remain topics of serious, extensive, and ongoing discussions within the Legislature; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature is aware that additional, significant reasons have been raised for the departure of physicians from the state; 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 high cost of living in the state affects everyone, including physicians earning relatively higher incomes; 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, physicians and hospitals claim that the amounts they are reimbursed for services, regardless of physician network or health insurance plan, are below standard and thus provide an incentive to seek work in another state; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is also alleged that physicians and hospitals are often forced to treat indigent, uninsured, or underinsured patients at a loss either because of low reimbursements or no reimbursements at all; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is further alleged that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are too low and do not allow physicians and hospitals to either break even or earn a modest return for providing their services; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2006, the Legislative Reference Bureau published "Medicaid and Quest Provider Payment and Reimbursement Rates", which began the examination of adequate reimbursement to providers for state-funded health care under Medicaid and Quest; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the State to attain a thorough understanding of all the issues and concerns 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, that the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senate President are requested to convene a temporary task force to examine all relevant issues that may contribute to the exodus of physicians from Hawaii and to recommend measures that may be taken to retain physicians in the state; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the temporary task force be placed within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for administrative purposes, including providing staff to take minutes of meetings and supply other clerical support; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to appoint five members to the temporary task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, jointly, are requested to appoint four legislators and stakeholders to the temporary task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force convene no later than July 1, 2007, and terminate on January 15, 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the temporary task force is requested to:

 

(1)  Explore ways that the State can raise the overall physician and hospital reimbursement rates for services;

 

(2)  Research methods of raising Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates for physician and hospital services, including working with and fashioning legislative initiatives with Hawaii's Congressional delegation on the federal level; and

 

(3)  Recommend ways to retain physicians to work in the state, particularly in rural and underserved areas;

 

and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the temporary task force is requested to submit its findings and recommendations, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Director of Human Services, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Commissioner, and Director of Health who, in turn, are requested to notify physicians and representatives of the health insurance industry, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Physician Exodus; Legislative Task Force; Examine Reasons.