Report Title:

Medically Fragile Children

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, children who are medically fragile have severe disabilities and maintain their state of well being only with complex medical, nursing and technological intervention, and have complex needs which require intricate planning and orchestration of medical and technical support to maintain their health and safety in their home and school; and

WHEREAS, more medically fragile children are doing better, surviving longer, and living in the community, due to better care and technology, as well as better and increased community support services; and

WHEREAS, a summit for policy-makers regarding the care of medically fragile children sponsored by Kapiolani Medical Center was held on November 14, 2000; and

WHEREAS, at the summit it was found that the continuum of care and the delivery of services to the increasing number of medically fragile children continues to be fragmented, with categorical funding restrictions, multiple points of entry and applications, wait lists, inadequate numbers of trained providers, and poor integration of services, which is frustrating to consumers, families, providers, and payors alike;

now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Human services and Department of Health are requested to jointly create a coordinating committee of public and private agencies to oversee the development of seamless continuum of care for medically fragile children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee should include, but not be limited to representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Education, Kapiolani Medical Center, parents, community care agencies, such as nursing facilities, health insurance companies, home health agencies, medical equipment companies, Kapiolani Community College, the Schools of Medicine and Nursing of UH-Manoa, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the University Affiliated Programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, because of its large financial commitment and familiarity with this population, the Department of Human Services shall serve as the lead agency to organize and coordinate the efforts of the coordinating committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the coordinating committee be tasked to document the needs of this population and make recommendations as to a seamless system of care and report its progress to the Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the coordinating committee should nonetheless make changes and improvements to the system of care where such changes can be implemented voluntarily and within the scope of present state and federal law and regulations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Education Kapiolani Medical Center, health insurance companies, home health agencies, medical equipment companies, Kapiolani Community College, the Schools of Medicine and Nursing of UH-Manoa, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the University Affiliated Programs.