Report Title:

Office of Health Care Assurance

 

Description:

Expands the responsibilities of the Office of Health Care Assurance to include providing support to the health care facilities they regulate through educational and training initiatives, including support to ensure expansion of the industry they regulate. Changes the name of the office to "Office of Health Care Assurance and Development".

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3439

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to health.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321-      Office of health care assurance and development.  (a)  The department of health, through its office of health care assurance and development shall develop and implement a program to promote, develop, and increase the number of health care facilities the office regulates through training and educational programs geared toward improving and increasing services, and access to these facilities.

     (b)  Operators or prospective operators of health care facilities under the office's jurisdiction shall be provided technical assistance to:

(1)  Guide them through the process of meeting industry standards and certification;

(2)  Bring the health care facility into compliance in any area found to be deficient;

(3)  Identify training and educational programs to improve the services provided by the health care facilities;

     (4)  Identify sources of funding, including grants to assist in the operation, improvement, and expansion of services;

     (5)  Apply for and achieve eligibility for grant programs; and

     (6)  Enter into formal agreements with partnering health care facilities to expand, share, and improve services.

     (c)  The director of health's salary shall be performance related based on the office's success in increasing the number of health care facilities.  Any annual per cent increase or decrease in the number of health care facilities under the jurisdiction of the office of health care assurance and development shall translate directly to an equal per cent increase or decrease in the director of health's salary; provided that that salary of the director of health shall not fall below the amount recommended by the commission on salaries pursuant to section 26-56; provided further that the salary of any state employee whose salary is based on the director of health's salary shall not be subject the salary variations provided under this section but shall have their salary based on the salary recommended by the commission on salaries pursuant to section 26-56.

     (d)  As used in this section, "office" means the office of health care assurance and development."

     SECTION 2.  Section 321-1.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is established within the department of health, to be administered by the department of health, the office of health care assurance and development special fund into which shall be deposited moneys collected under section 321-11.5(b) and all administrative penalties imposed and collected by the office of health care assurance and development pursuant to section 321-20.

     (b)  Moneys in the special fund shall be expended by the department of health:

     (1)  To assist in offsetting operating costs and educational program expenses of the department of health's office of health care [assurance;] assurance and development; and

     (2)  For the purpose of enhancing the capacity of office of health care assurance and development programs to:

         (A)  Improve public health outreach efforts, program and community development, and consultations to industries regulated; and

          (B)  Educate the public, the staff of the department of health, [[]and[]] other departments within the [State,] state, as well as staff and providers of all health care facilities and agencies regulated.

Not more than $300,000 of the special fund may be used during any fiscal year for the activities carried out by the office of health care [assurance.] assurance and development."

     SECTION 3.  Section 321-11.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  All fees paid and collected pursuant to this section and rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91 from facilities seeking licensure or certification by the department of health, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, freestanding outpatient surgical facilities, adult day health care centers, rural health centers, laboratories, adult residential care homes, expanded adult residential care homes, developmental disability domiciliary homes, assisted living facilities, therapeutic living programs, and special treatment facilities, shall be deposited into the office of health care assurance and development special fund created under section 321-1.4.  Any other entities required by law to be licensed by the department of health shall also be subject to reasonable fees established by the department of health by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91."

     SECTION 4.  Section 321-15.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:

     "(g)  Any fines collected by the department of health for violations of this section shall be deposited into the office of health care assurance and development special fund."

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the office of health care assurance and development to develop and implement a program to promote, develop, and increase the number of health care facilities the office regulates through training and educational programs geared toward improving and increasing services, and access to these facilities.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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