Bill Text: HI SB2592 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Drug Treatment.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-07 - The committee on CPH deferred the measure. [SB2592 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2592-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2592
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to drug treatment.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that methamphetamine abuse and addiction rates are increasing in Hawaii.  According to the United States Sentencing Commission, methamphetamine plays a role in almost ninety per cent of federally-sentenced drug convictions in the Hawaiian islands, nearly triple the national average.  Additionally, methamphetamine use has been a long-standing issue for state health officials, often contributing to the readmission of some patients to the Hawaii state hospital.  According to data from the department of health, sixty-three per cent of Hawaii state hospital patients have a history of methamphetamine use, with the median length of stay for these patients being two hundred twenty-one days, or sixty days longer than the median hospitalization period for patients with no history of methamphetamine use.

     The legislature also finds that opioid addiction continues to be a major concern both nationally and locally.  According to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths in Hawaii have increased by eighty-three per cent from 2006 to 2014, a growth rate more than double the national average.  A majority of those deaths are a result of prescription opioids and heroin.

     Drug treatment has been found to be a cost-effective way to reduce drug abuse.  Money spent on drug treatment saves on the cost of law enforcement, incarceration, medical treatment, and homeless and social services.  Drug treatment is more cost effective than law enforcement, interdiction, and source control, due to lower costs per offender and lowered recidivism rates.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funding for drug and mental health treatment programs for the continuum of care coordination across Hawaii's health care system.

     SECTION 2.  The department of health shall pursue all funding sources known to the State, including federal or private grants, to fund any drug treatment programs prior to expending any general revenues appropriated pursuant to this Act.  The department shall pursue all public and private insurance options for coverage of drug treatment for each individual served by programs or services funded by this Act before expending any funds appropriated by this Act for services provided to any individual.  Any funds appropriated by this Act shall be used by the department as the payor of last resort.

     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 2020-2021 for the department of health to implement and development its Hawaii coordinated access recovery entry system to increase access to treatment for all individuals who suffer any form of substance abuse and mental illness.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act, subject to section 2 of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Drug Treatment and Mental Health Programs; Department of Health; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funding for the implementation and development of the Hawaii coordinated access recovery entry system to increase access to treatment for all individuals who suffer any form of substance abuse and mental illness.  Requires the DOH to pursue all known funding sources for drug treatment programs prior to expending general revenue funds appropriated.  Requires DOH to exhaust all public and private insurance options for reimbursement for individual treatment provided before expending appropriated funds.

 

 

 

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