HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2801

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION for operational costs.

 

 

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

 


PART I

SECTION 1.  The legislature recognizes that the State’s community hospital system, Hawaii health systems corporation, is the fourth largest public hospital system in the nation.  The Hawaii health systems corporation's public health facilities provide essential safety-net hospital and long-term care services throughout the state and are often the only hospitals in many rural communities.  The predominant portion of the Hawaii health care system's gross revenue payer mix is from government-provided health insurance payers, which are considered high risk payers because their payments typically do not cover costs and are not especially timely.  Hawaii health systems corporation has experienced cash flow difficulties in the past fiscal periods, has initiated contingency strategies to meet revenue shortfalls, and is facing additional financial burdens in the current fiscal year 2010-2011 due to government-provided health insurance plan payment delays.  Without available cash to absorb delays in payments the facilities face an exacerbated financial condition with cash flow difficulties and increased accounts payable that strain their ability to remain viable and respond to the needs of the specific communities served.

The purpose of this Act is to provide the Hawaii health systems corporation with emergency funding to ensure continuous delivery of critical health care services and for the payment of operational costs.

PART II

SECTION 2.  The Hawaii health systems corporation East Hawaii regional health system, in efforts to bring more caregivers, including physicians, advance practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners), pharmacists, and nurses to the Island of Hawaii to address a critical caregiver shortage situation, is committed to the establishment of the Big Island  rural interdisciplinary program, a program affiliated with the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine, school of nursing and dental hygiene, school of pharmacy – Hilo, and baccalaureate nursing department - Hilo.  This residency program is intended to familiarize family medicine residents, advance practice registered nurse (nurse practitioner) students, pharmacy residents, and nursing students with the unique health care needs of our neighbor island communities, in addition to being a supplementary recruitment and retention option.  The ability to bring new caregivers to practice in the community health center ensures that our hospitals will be able to provide necessary health care services to residents and visitors in this health care professional shortage area.

The purpose of this part is to provide emergency funding to provide for the establishment of the Big Island rural interdisciplinary program in East Hawaii region.

PART III

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $16,397,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010, to be deposited into the health systems special fund established under section 323F-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the health systems special fund the sum of $16,397,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010, to ensure continuous delivery of critical health care services and for the payment of operational costs.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation East Hawaii region, HTH 212, for the purposes of part I of this Act.

SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010, for the establishment of the Big Island rural interdisciplinary program in the East Hawaii region.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation East Hawaii region, HTH 212, for the purposes of part II of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Emergency Funding

 

Description:

Provides emergency supplemental budget funding to ensure continuous delivery of critical health care services and for the payment of operational costs for HHSC; to fund the establishment of the Big Island Rural Interdisciplinary Program in the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation East Hawaii region.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.