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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1538 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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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 Hawaii has a forty per cent higher prevalence rate of patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease than the rest of the nation. The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii estimates that six hundred twenty patients are newly diagnosed with end-stage renal disease every year in Hawaii. Patients suffering from end-stage renal disease are most often put on dialysis treatment, a medical treatment that filters waste from a patient's blood when the kidneys are no longer able to do so. The treatment takes hours and usually requires three treatments a week.
The legislature finds that hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients have special risks and needs during and after critical events and natural disasters. Water, power, supplies, and medications are essential to the survival of dialysis patients. Because of Hawaii's geographical isolation and high number of patients with kidney disease, the need for emergency planning to maintain dialysis services is pressing. Therefore, with funding from the federal metropolitan medical response system grant program, a task force composed of public and private sector members representing both health care and emergency management interests was established in 2010 to create a statewide dialysis emergency plan for Hawaii. The task force commissioned a study to identify risks and needs, and make recommendations for preparation for and response to power outages, hurricanes, earthquakes, water outages, or other large-scale emergencies. The legislature notes that the task force report is expected to be made available in the coming months.
As of January 2011, the State had nineteen federally certified dialysis centers, not including those within hospitals, and many are operating at close to full capacity. Only one of the off-hospital dialysis centers has a backup emergency generator; even that system is not prepared to run its water treatment system with low water pressure. Electricity and water are crucial to dialysis treatment. As a result of the December 2008 power outages in the State, many dialysis patients were forced to miss their regular treatment appointments, which put them at serious risk for blood poisoning.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of health and Hawaii state civil defense to carry out the statewide dialysis emergency plan created by the task force established in 2010 under the federal metropolitan medical response system grant.
SECTION 2. The department of health and state civil defense shall each report to the legislature no later than sixty days before the start of the 2012 regular session on each agency's respective progress in implementing the recommendations of the statewide emergency dialysis plan.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 to upgrade dialysis facilities and otherwise effectuate the recommendations of the statewide dialysis emergency plan created by the task force established in 2010 under the federal metropolitan medical response system grant.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Health Care; Dialysis Centers; Appropriation
Description:
Directs the department of health and state civil defense to report to the legislature on progress in implementing the recommendations of the statewide dialysis emergency plan. Appropriates funds to upgrade dialysis facilities and implement the plan.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.