REPORT TITLE:
Approp. Medically Underserved


DESCRIPTION:
Makes appropriation to support primary health care for medically
underserved populations. (SD2)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1641
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it is in the best
 
 2 interest of the State to ensure access to primary and preventive
 
 3 health care to all its residents.  This care not only results in
 
 4 a healthier and more productive population but also reduces
 
 5 publicly-supported costs for hospital and emergency room use for
 
 6 preventable conditions.
 
 7      The legislature further finds that over 100,000 people in
 
 8 Hawaii, including over 30,000 children and over 10,000 elderly
 
 9 aged sixty-five and over, have no health insurance and that
 
10 number is rising.  The legislature further finds that budget
 
11 restrictions have forced the QUEST program to tighten eligibility
 
12 requirements which have cut 30,000 people from its enrollment.
 
13      The legislature further finds that particular pockets of the
 
14 population in Hawaii have disproportionately severe health
 
15 problems and a concurrent lack of health insurance and health
 
16 care accessibility.  For example, native Hawaiians have higher
 
17 mortality rates due to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma,
 
18 and bronchitis, and a significant proportion of newly arrived
 
19 immigrants have hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and Hansen's disease.
 

 
Page 2                                                     1641
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        S.D. 2
                                                        

 
 1 The increasing homeless population is a contributory factor to
 
 2 the poor health profile.  Poor health in children affects their
 
 3 growth and learning potential.  The legislature further finds
 
 4 that certain geographic areas in Hawaii, such as Ka'u, Puna,
 
 5 Hamakua, and Waianae, have some of the worst health indicators.
 
 6      The legislature further finds that budget restrictions have
 
 7 also affected the solvency of safety-net providers such as
 
 8 community health centers and other nonprofit organizations that
 
 9 predominantly serve the QUEST and uninsured populations.  
 
10      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for
 
11 medically underserved populations.
 
12      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
13 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof
 
14 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, to support primary
 
15 health care for medically underserved populations.
 
16      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
17 health for the purposes of this Act.
 
18      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
19 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof
 
20 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, to provide health
 
21 care services for the uninsured at eight community health centers
 
22 on three islands.
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     1641
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        S.D. 2
                                                        

 
 1      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
 2 health for the purposes of this Act.
 
 3      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.