THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1140

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

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 Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center was established in 1972 to provide health services for the federally designated medically underserved Waianae coast with operational funds granted through the Department of Health and Human Services.  The legislature further finds that consistent with the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's mission, the center currently serves 35,000 patients annually; of the patients served, forty-five per cent are Native Hawaiian, followed by Asian and other Pacific Islanders, at twenty-four per cent.  Seventy per cent of patients are at one hundred per cent of the federal poverty level or below, nine per cent are uninsured, and fifty-nine per cent are participants of the State's medicaid program.

     The legislature further finds that the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's emergency room is one of the most heavily utilized on Oahu, serving 13,500 patients through a total of 24,000 visits in 2015 to 2016.  The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center emergency medical services provide a safety net for the residents of the Waianae coast.  Increased homelessness, changing economic conditions, and growing behavioral health issues continue to increase the demand for emergency medical services in the region.  The twenty-four-hour emergency services provided by the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center help address the issue of geographic isolation faced by the communities located on the most western point of Oahu.

     The legislature further finds that the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's twenty-four-hour emergency medical services program is linked to both the state emergency medical services system and the state plan for disaster response.  The facility is one of the two remaining non-hospital based, emergency medical facilities that are a part of this essential system of emergency response in the State.  The facility was regularly included in the state department of health budget prior to being supported by the community health centers special fund.

     The legislature further finds that based on the history and investment of the State in the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's emergency services over the years, it is recommended that future investment in a long term funding option will ensure stability of emergency services for the leeward coast community.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds as a grant to assist the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center in the operation of its twenty-four-hour emergency medical room to continue to serve the residents of the Waianae coast and require funding for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's emergency services to be included in the department of health's base budget beginning with the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,925,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center for operation of its twenty-four-hour emergency room.

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

     SECTION 3.  Funds necessary for the operation of Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's twenty-four-hour emergency services shall be included in the department of health's base budget beginning with the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Emergency Medical Services; Emergency Room; Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds as a grant to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center for operation of its twenty-four-hour emergency room.  Requires funds necessary for the operation of Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's twenty-four-hour emergency services to be included in the department of health's base budget beginning with the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

 

 

 

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