Joint House Finance/Senate Ways and Means hold info briefing on HHSC

Kahuku Medical Center, the newest addition to the HHSC network of public hospitals.

Photo Credit: The Honolulu Advertiser.

About 2 weeks ago, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) briefed House and Senate caucuses on its dire financial situation - a $62 million projected shortfall for fiscal year 2009, on top of a deficit of $42 million at the end of fiscal year 2008.

HHSC is a network of 13 public hospitals on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai and the Big Island. The facilities are managed by regional boards. Given its financial situation, HHSC may be facing the need to reduce services and staff.

The 13 facilities are:

Maui: Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital


Lanai: Lanai Community Hospital


East Hawaii: Hilo Medical Center, Hale Hoola Hamakua, Kau Hospital


West Hawaii: Kohala Hospital, Kona Community Hospital


Kauai: Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, Sam Mahelona Memorial Hospital


Oahu: Maluhia, Leahi Hospital, Kahuku Medical Center

As a followup to HHSC's announcement, the House Finance Committee and the Senate Ways and Means committee will hold joint informational briefings on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, East Hawaii and West Hawaii over the next few months. The first one for Oahu is scheduled for this Friday. In addition, House and Senate will form a health systems recovery task force to look at structural issues and improving access to healthcare.

Date: Friday, July 11, 2008


Time: 10:00 a.m. to completion


Place: State Capitol - Conference Room 325

Who's invited: Healthcare Association of Hawaii; HHSC Board of Directors; HHSC Administration; Oahu Regional Board; Office of the Governor; Hawaii Government Employees Association; United Public Workers.

Public comments: The public may provide comments on the HHSC system wide and Oahu region plans by submitting testimony by email at least 24 hours in advance to: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov.

The purpose of the briefing will be to look at the impact to services as HHSC manages its projected $62 million shortfall, whether HHSC can implement some or all of their plans without legislative approval, assistance by the state administration, options and actions to help HHSC fulfill its mission.