STATE HOUSE APPROVES BILL FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING
TO
KAUAI HOSPITALS
The Hawaii House of Representatives has
passed HB3 HD1, of the 2013 Second Special Session, which will provide $7.3 million
in emergency funding to sustain the operations of the Kauai regional health
care system. Without this funding Kauai’s two hospitals operated by the Hawaii
Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) would have run out of money in January 2014
forcing them to close down—placing the health care of Kauai's residents and
visitors in jeopardy.
HHSC is
a public benefit corporation of government of the State of Hawaii providing
patient-centered, integrated-care systems throughout the islands and is the
fourth largest public health system in the country. On Kauai, the organization
operates two critical access hospitals, the only inpatient psychiatric unit on
the island, long-term care, and three physician clinics. The two operating
hospitals are West Kauai Medical Center and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
The bill,
submitted by the Governor’s office, initially requested an appropriation of $2.5
million. After consideration of testimony from HHSC and the community, the
House Finance and Health Committees raised the funding to $7.3 million to cover
operations until March 2014.
Finance
Chair Sylvia Luke (Makiki, Punchbowl, Nuuanu, Dowsett Highlands, Pacific
Heights, Pauoa) and Health Chair Della Au Belatti (Makiki, Tantalus, Papakolea,
McCully, Pawaa, Manoa) thanked the Representatives from Kauai, “for their
diligence in bringing this matter to our attention and for educating all of us
on the importance of passing this bill. We are glad that we had the opportunity
to recapitalize the system before the public was put at risk,” they said.
In
applauding the passing of the bill, the Kauai delegation stated, “We are
extremely appreciative to the members of the Health and Finance Committees for
understanding the critical need of this emergency request and for increasing
the amount to a level that would sustain our public health system on Kauai. It
is no secret that the neighbor islands and rural districts require additional
assistance to provide even the basic level of healthcare and we will continue
to work towards improving the health care delivery system for the people of
Kauai.”
The bill now moves
to State Senate for their consideration. Senate Vice President Ronald D.
Kouchi (Kauai, Niihau), a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee,
pledged his support for the bill and its passage stating, “the emergency
appropriation for Kauai’s two HHSC hospitals, in Waimea and Kapaa, is necessary
to ensure that all residents of Kauai are afforded access to health care
services.”
Kauai
Representatives Contact Information:
Derek S.K. Kawakami (Hanalei,
Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa, Wailua)
808-586-8435
Jimmy Tokioka (Wailua Homesteads,
Hanamaulu, Lihue, Puhi, Old Koloa Town, Omao)
808-586-6270
Dee Morikawa (Niihau, Lehua, Koloa,
Waimea)
808-586-6280
