HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1608

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State faces a severe shortage of healthcare providers.  This situation is particularly acute in primary care, where most of the prevention, early intervention, and healthcare cost savings occur.

     The legislature further finds that the Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program is an effective way to reduce the impact of the shortage of primary care providers and improve access to healthcare throughout the State.  Administered by the Hilo Medical Center in coordination with the Hawaii health systems corporation regions, this interdisciplinary program includes: the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program; training for advanced practice nurses from the school of nursing and dental hygiene at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the school of nursing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; clinical pharmacists from the University of Hawaii at Hilo's college of pharmacy; and post-doctoral fellows from I Ola Lahui, an organization that trains psychologists to meet the needs of residents of rural areas.

     The success of this training model, which will be expanded to other neighbor island health facilities, will generate interdisciplinary teams capable of caring for four times as many patients as independent practicing physicians.  Hawaii will benefit greatly as the Hawaii health systems corporation regions' program will eliminate the need to train or attract unattainably high numbers of physicians.

     The purpose of this Act is to address the shortage of primary care providers in the State by appropriating funds for the interdisciplinary Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at the Hilo Medical Center.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,800,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the interdisciplinary Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at the Hilo Medical Center.

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

BY REQUEST


 


 

Report Title:

HSAC Package; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at the Hilo Medical Center.

 

 

 

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