HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

223

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER AND WAI`ANAE'S INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Department of Health seeks to improve the mental health of Hawaii's people by reducing the prevalence of emotional disorders and mental illnesses; and

 

WHEREAS, services include mental health education, treatment, and rehabilitation through community-based mental health centers and private providers of services; and

 

WHEREAS, there are nine community health centers in Hawaii that provide mental health services; and

 

WHEREAS, of the State's nine community health centers, Hale Na`au Pono, also known as the Wai`anae Coast Community Mental Health Center, is the only private nongovernmental organization; the other eight centers operate under the Department of Health; and

 

WHEREAS, the transformation of the mental health services in the State of Hawaii has been of primary concern of everyone associated with such services, garnering a major federal grant over several years for that purpose; and

 

WHEREAS, the cost and quality of service in the State's mental health system has been a source of major concern and outcry among the people of Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS, Hale Na`au Pono originally operated as part of the statewide system of mental health centers daring the mid-1970's, but it eventually separated from the Department of Health as a demonstration model to serve the Wai`anae community as a separate "catchment" area; and

 

WHEREAS, Hale Na`au Pono incorporated in 1986 and opened its doors as a private community-operated center in 1987, and, for the past twenty-two years, it has continued to serve the Wai`anae coast community and has accrued Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation, recognition in its leadership role for quality of service, and acclaim for its cultural and social appropriateness of services and unique recovery program called Voyage to Recovery; and

 

WHEREAS, Hale Na`au Pono has developed a range of services far in excess of any state-operated Community Mental Health Center, including a wide range of clinical levels of services, housing programs across the community, an International Center for Clubhouse Development-certified alcohol and drug treatment program, smoking cessation program, and numerous other support services to aid in the recovery from serious mental illnesses; and

 

WHEREAS, there appears to be a lack of parity between salary, benefits, cost reimbursements, staffing qualifications, and other operational requirements between the state-run Community Mental Health Centers and the Wai`anae Community Mental Health Center; and

 

WHEREAS, it would be appropriate to carry out a comparative study of this twenty-two year old Wai`anae demonstration community mental health center and the state-operated community mental health centers that examines costs, contracts, national accreditations, services provided, quality of services, consumer satisfaction, and other relevant subjects; now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a financial, program, and management audit of the Department of Health's community based mental health centers and the Wai`anae Coast Community Mental Health Center, Hale Na`au Pono; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to include in the financial, program, and management audit:

 

(1)  An assessment of all contracts issued to all of the community health centers, including Hale Na`au Pono;

 

(2)  A cost analysis of operations comparing the state-run centers and Hale Na`au Pono;

 

(3)  A comparison of salaries and benefits of comparable positions at state-run centers and Hale Na`au Pono;

 

(4)  A comparison of the accreditation standards met over the past two decades by the state-run centers and Hale Na`au Pono;

 

(5)  The respective credentialing and certification or licensing of the professional staff employed by state-run centers and Hale Na`au Pono; and

 

(6)  Any other issues the Auditor deems relevant; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, the community health centers operated by the Department of Health, Hale Na`au Pono, and other relevant persons or agencies are requested to cooperate with and assist the Auditor and to provide information requested by the Auditor; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit any findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Auditor, the Director of Health, and the President and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of Hale Na`au Pono.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Wai`anae Community Mental Health Center Audit