Bill Text: HI SB1204 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Community Health Centers; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-28 - Referred to HSH/HTH, WAM. [SB1204 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-SB1204-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1204 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 community health centers serve uninsured, underinsured, low income patient populations with demographic complexities and co-morbidities, in addition to one-fourth of the State's medicaid members, and many of the State's homeless individuals and families. Community health centers are nonprofit, community-based organizations whose purpose and expertise lie in providing quality, person-centered health care to underserved populations and areas. Community health centers:
(1) Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and a broad range of integrated primary care and preventive services;
(2) Operate in medically-underserved areas where people have limited access to other health care providers because of geographic and socio-economic barriers;
(3) Contribute greatly to the economies and livability of the communities they serve; and
(4) Provide cost-effective quality health care which results in healthier patients and decreased use of emergency, specialty, and in-patient services.
Community health centers save the health care system $1,263 per patient per year due to timely, effective care and care management that reduces unnecessary emergency room, in-patient, and specialty utilization. In 2013, this translated to savings of more than $90,000,000 for Hawaii's medicaid program. Community health centers' patient-centered delivery system features: comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health, and dental services; care management and enabling services that enhance access, compliance, and patient engagement; and focus on quality outcomes supported by electronic health records that conform to meaningful use requirements. Community health centers are a smart investment that result in healthier communities while saving the State money.
Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has resulted in uncertainty for many individuals and presented challenges for those individuals to obtain health insurance. Overall, about 20 per cent of health center patients remain uninsured, and some health centers have even larger percentages of uninsured patient populations. For these reasons, it is imperative that the State provide support and resources to health centers so that uninsured individuals have access to primary, dental, and behavioral health care services that prevent unnecessary or inappropriate use of the emergency room and uncompensated health care costs.
The legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the State to ensure access to primary, behavioral, dental, and preventive health care for its residents. In addition to facilitating a healthier population, improving access to health care reduces state expenditures attributable to hospital and emergency room services for preventable injuries or illnesses. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to provide quality, cost-effective health care for Hawaii residents who are uninsured, newly uninsured, or underinsured.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the provision of direct health care by federally qualified community health centers for the uninsured and underinsured, which may include primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care; provided that distribution of funds may be on a per visit basis, and may include an additional per member per month quality incentive payment, taking into consideration need on all islands.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Community Health Centers; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for federally qualified community health centers to provide quality, cost-effective health care for the State's uninsured, newly uninsured, and underinsured population.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
