190
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXTEND ITS SERVICES OF THE
   NEUROPSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNTIL APPROPRIATE AND ADEQUATE
   ALTERNATIVES ARE FOUND.



 1       WHEREAS, neuropsychology services at the Hawaii State
 2   Hospital is one of the first outpatient neurotraining treatment
 3   programs in the United States; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, the program is unique because it follows a
 6   standardized and highly specific assessment and treatment
 7   protocol that is objectively documented; and
 8   
 9       WHEREAS, the program serves a wide spectrum of persons with
10   special needs, including the brain-injured population and
11   students covered by the Felix Consent Decree; and
12   
13       WHEREAS, it is one of the very few programs in Hawaii where
14   individuals with brain injury are able to get cognitive
15   rehabilitation, or neurotraining therapy, the heart of the
16   program; and
17   
18       WHEREAS, effective March 31, 1999, the Hawaii State
19   Hospital will discontinue the outpatient and related services
20   of the Neuropsychology Department; and
21   
22       WHEREAS, persons who are currently receiving outpatient
23   services, and the numerous individuals who are on the waiting
24   list, will have no place to go once the Department's doors
25   close; and
26   
27       WHEREAS, the Department of Health (DOH) has attempted to
28   transition these individuals into the community by, among other
29   things, providing a list of professionals available to assess
30   the needs of, and provide the appropriate level of
31   neuropsychological services to adults, adolescents, and
32   children in relation to the number of cases; and
33   
34       WHEREAS, while DOH's attempts are admirable, the success of
35   a smooth transition is unlikely because many insurance
36   providers will not cover post-acute rehabilitation services,

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   which is why so many brain injury survivors are unable to
 2   reintegrate into the community; now, therefore,
 3   
 4       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 5   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 6   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that DOH is urged to extend the
 7   services of the Neuropsychology Department until appropriate
 8   and adequate alternatives are found; and
 9   
10       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH is requested to provide
11   transitional and long-term plans for each client currently
12   receiving services; and
13   
14       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH determine if the functions
15   of the Neuropsychology Department can be transferred to another
16   division; and
17   
18       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human
19   Services is urged to offer rehabilitation services for
20   outpatients who are no longer able to receive care from the
21   Hawaii State Hospital; and
22   
23       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH determine the short- and
24   long-term impact of limiting its services; and
25   
26       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH submit a report to the
27   Legislature no later than the date of the discontinuance of
28   neuropsychology outpatient services at the State Hospital
29   including:
30   
31       (1)  The number of patients currently receiving outpatient
32            neuropsychology services at the State Hospital;
33   
34       (2)  The types of services being received by each patient;
35   
36       (3)  What alternative services are available for each
37            patient once the neuropsychology outpatient services
38            are discontinued; and
39   
40       (4)  The current status of each of these patients;
41   
42   and
43   
44       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
45   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Directors of Health
46   and Human Services.