Bill Text: HI SB2502 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Mobile Clinics.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-12 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [SB2502 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2502-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2502
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to mobile clinics.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that homelessness continues to be one of the State's most significant and challenging social problems.  According to the 2017 Hawaii statewide homeless point-in-time count conducted in January 2017, there are 7,220 homeless individuals in the State, an overall decrease of nine per cent from 2016.  However, the costs of caring for this population have continued to grow.  Homeless persons face a myriad of issues, including general health issues, mental illness, and substance abuse.  These issues affecting homeless persons also impact the general population through the costs of social and health care services.  In 2016, there were over twenty thousand hospital visits by homeless persons in the State.  Medical visits by the homeless cost state hospitals $214,000,000 in 2016, up drastically from $70,500,000 in 2010.  Treating these homeless individuals is sometimes uncompensated; one hospital alone incurred $10,500,000 in uncompensated costs in 2015.

     The legislature also finds that mobile clinics are increasing in popularity across the nation as the government tries to find ways to address the health care needs of the homeless population.  In places such as Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; San Jose, California; and Seattle, Washington, mobile clinics offer a variety of free health care services for local homeless populations, resulting in significant cost savings when compared to emergency room visits.  One estimate from 2016 found that each dollar spent on mobile clinics saved twelve dollars in other costs.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for purchasing, staffing, and operating two mobile clinics to serve the homeless population.

     SECTION 2.  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 2018-2019 to purchase, staff, and operate two mobile clinics to serve the homeless population; provided that:

     (1)  The staff shall include, at minimum, one primary care provider, one nurse, one pharmacist, and one psychiatrist and may include staff as needed, including a social worker, outreach worker, and students pursuing a degree in medicine or nursing; and

     (2)  The mobile clinics may provide, at minimum, the following services:

          (A)  Non-emergency medical services for chronic, acute, and episodic conditions;

          (B)  Testing for sexually transmitted disease, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis;

          (C)  Family planning;

          (D)  Child and family services;

          (E)  Behavioral health and substance abuse services;

          (F)  Mental health services;

          (G)  Dental care;

          (H)  Referral services;

          (I)  Shower and laundry services;

          (J)  Clean clothing;

          (K)  Health insurance enrollment;

          (L)  Pharmacy services;

          (M)  Street medicine; provided that for the purposes of this subparagraph, "street medicine" means the practice of directly delivering health care and related services to persons found on the streets, in parks, along river banks, on beaches, and in abandoned buildings; and

          (N)  Other assistance services;

provided further that the department of human services may procure the mobile clinic services pursuant to chapter 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The sum 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, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Mobile Clinic; Homeless; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to purchase, staff, and operate two mobile clinics to serve the homeless population.

 

 

 

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