REPORT TITLE:
Hawaii health systems corp.


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes moratorium on all new proposals by the Hawaii Health
Systems Corporation and requires an audit of current programs and
projects.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2767
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH. 


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

 1      SECTION 1.  In 1996, the legislature recognized that the
 
 2 rapid changes taking place in the health care industry and the
 
 3 impending implementation of national and local health care reform
 
 4 called for a re-thinking of Hawaii's state hospital system.  It
 
 5 was essential that administrative structure of governance had the
 
 6 appropriate flexibility and autonomy needed for the state
 
 7 hospital system to compete and remain viable.
 
 8      In recognizing the health care needs of Hawaii's people, the
 
 9 legislature enacted Act 262, Session Laws of Hawaii 1996, that
 
10 established the Hawaii health systems corporation.  The intent
 
11 was to provide better health care for Hawaii's people by freeing
 
12 health care facilities from unwarranted bureaucratic oversight.
 
13      As the legislature serves all of the people of Hawaii, it is
 
14 critically important that no portion of the populace be
 
15 neglected.  In adopting Act 262, it was also the intent of the
 
16 legislature to ensure that people living in rural areas would
 
17 also receive quality health care.  However, recent findings have
 
18 indicated that this portion of the Hawaii health systems
 
19 corporation's mandate may not have been met.  Additionally, it
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 has come to the attention of the legislature that a number of the
 
 2 Hawaii health system corporation's current projects may not be as
 
 3 effective at delivering services as originally hoped.  It is
 
 4 therefore in the best interest of the State and the people of
 
 5 Hawaii that measures be taken to ensure that the delivery of
 
 6 quality health care is being carried out in the most effective
 
 7 and efficient means possible.
 
 8      SECTION 2.  Beginning on July 1, 2000, there shall be a
 
 9 moratorium on all new proposals by the Hawaii health systems
 
10 corporation that require the use of state funds.  This moratorium
 
11 shall remain in effect until June 30, 2001.
 
12      SECTION 3.  The office of the auditor shall conduct a study
 
13 evaluating all projects and programs being undertaken by the
 
14 Hawaii health systems corporation as of July 1, 2000.  The audit
 
15 shall evaluate alternative structures of administration that may
 
16 positively contribute to the effective delivery of quality health
 
17 care services.  The auditor shall submit a report of its findings
 
18 and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days
 
19 prior to the convening of the regular session of 2001.
 
20      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
21 
 
22                       INTRODUCED BY:  ___________________________