Bill Text: HI SB1032 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 1032 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Hana Health.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-11-30 - Carried over to 2018 Regular Session. [SB1032 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB1032-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1032
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to HAna health.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hāna, Maui, is one of the most isolated areas in the State. Hāna town is fifty-seven miles from Wailuku, a trip that takes approximately two hours along a single lane road with six hundred seventeen turns and fifty-six one-lane bridges. The district is made up of small, isolated settlements scattered over two hundred thirty-three square miles. Many of the villages are located a minimum of forty-five minutes from the main town of Hāna. Many homes do not have basic utilities, such as electricity, telephones, and running water.

The legislature further finds that Hāna Health was established pursuant to Act 263, Session Laws of Hawaii 1996, to transition the Hāna Medical Center from a state-operated facility to a nonprofit community health center designed to meet the specific needs of the area. In the twenty years since, Hāna Health has operated effectively and worked closely with the department of health's family health services.

Operating since 1997, the purpose of Hāna Health is to improve the general health and well-being of the Hāna community through the provision of medical care and other social, economic, and health-related programs. Hāna Health is the only health care provider in the Hāna district, serving the primary health care and emergent medical needs of residents and visitors alike. Hāna has been designated by the federal government as a medically underserved population, a primary care health professional shortage area, a dental health professional shortage area, and a mental health professional shortage area. In September 2002, Hāna Health was designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

The legislature additionally finds that because of Hāna's relative isolation, Hāna Health provides a hybrid of services. Unlike most primary care clinics, Hāna Health must also coordinate activities with the ambulance service and provide assistance in stabilizing patients with life-threatening illnesses or traumatic injuries. These services are required twenty-four hours a day because the center is the only full service health care provider in the district. The coordination of emergency services and provision of life support care is absolutely essential to the 2,500 residents of Hāna and the six hundred thousand tourists who visit annually.

Hāna Health has been providing primary and urgent medical care, oral health care, mental and behavioral health care, pre-packaged medications in lieu of a full pharmacy, laboratory testing, and limited transportation and home health services for those with mobility problems in this rural community since its inception. Additional Hāna Health programs include:

(1) The Hāna Fresh Farm, which provides food for Hāna Health's nutrition programs and includes a Hawaiian medicinal garden;

(2) The Healthy Lifestyles Program, designed to support patients managing a chronic health condition, which includes Hāna Fresh meals and personalized fitness plans;

(3) Rx for Good Health, which supports Hāna Health patients to adopt a diet rich in farm fresh produce through "prescriptions" for organic fruits and vegetables at the Hāna Fresh Farm stand; and

(4) The Walk It to Win It Challenge, a walking program aimed at helping student in grades 3 through 8 learn about and adopt healthy lifestyles, including proper nutrition and regular exercise.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to Hāna Health to continue Hāna Health's ability to meet the ongoing needs of the isolated Hāna community.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the department of health to support Hāna Health.

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

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Hana Health; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the continued support of Hāna Health in Hāna, Maui.

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