HR28

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	28
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

---

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

Requesting a management and financial audit of the department of health, emergency Medical services systems branch.

 

WHEREAS, the Emergency Medical Services Systems Branch (EMSSB) of the Department of Health (DOH) provides oversight of the statewide emergency medical services system; and

WHEREAS, EMSSB is the managing arm of DOH for the provision of EMS services through contract providers throughout each of the four counties; and

WHEREAS, the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) is of vital importance to the well-being of the general public, oftentimes having life and death consequences; and

WHEREAS, numerous questions have been raised as to the adequacy of the provision of emergency medical services via the various providers statewide; and

WHEREAS, specific questions have also been raised regarding the management of the City and County of Honolulu's EMS services, its failure to comply with contractual obligations, and the failure of the EMSSB to investigate, follow-up, and take corrective action regarding these inadequacies; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu's EMS division has continually signed the contract for the provision of services at the end of the fiscal year with no concern on the part of the EMSSB, the contractual manager; and

WHEREAS, numerous complaints and long-standing concerns have been expressed by field and other EMS personnel regarding the financial and managerial oversight by the EMSSB; and

WHEREAS, some of these concerns include and are related to:

(1) Fiscal management;

(2) Favoritism and bias within EMSSB;

(3) The safety and well-being of EMSSB employees;

(4) Mismanagement of contractual obligations;

(5) Favoritism among contractors;

(6) Improper oversight of contracts and contract providers;

(7) Improper and/or unnecessary payments of purchase orders;

(8) Failure to properly follow state procurement procedures;

(9) Questionable payments to contract providers; and

(10) Possible occurrences of Medicare fraud;

and

WHEREAS, an internal investigation conducted by DOH regarding bias and favoritism within EMSSB has shown that such conditions exist; and

WHEREAS, despite this DOH report, EMSSB continues to be plagued by conditions of favoritism and bias; and

WHEREAS, among other things, an audit of the EMSSB would help to:

(1) Verify any concerns and complaints of the public and emergency medical services professionals;

(2) Pinpoint areas of weakness within EMSSB and any areas that need follow up;

(3) Provide an assessment of any actions or efforts taken by DOH, or EMSSB, to address any of the concerns mentioned above and to remedy the problems; and

(4) Recommend ways to address any other concerns or problems existing at the Emergency Medical Services Systems Branch;

and

WHEREAS, an audit would further serve to improve the services and fiscal condition of the EMSSB, as well as maximize staff efficiency, the prudent use of resources, and the effective provision of emergency medical services statewide; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Office of the Auditor is requested to perform a management and financial audit of the DOH, EMSSB, and related programs from the biennium periods extending from:

(1) July 1, 1998, to June 30, 2000; and

(2) July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2002;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Auditor address these and other related issues and report its findings to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the State Auditor and the Director of Health.

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

[Click here and type the Report Title (1 line limit)]