HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

135

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE GOVERNOR OR THE GOVERNOR'S DESIGNEE IN A JOINT LEGISLATIVE/EXECUTIVE BRANCH WORK GROUP DEDICATED TO FINDING AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS TO HAWAII'S HEALTHCARE CRISIS.

 

 

WHEREAS, the cost of healthcare in Hawaii and the nation is escalating exponentially, and Medicaid reimbursements are frequently less than the actual cost of the medical care provided; and

WHEREAS, health insurance premium costs, long-term care costs, and prescription drug costs are rising rapidly; and

WHEREAS, in April 2003, the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) filed documents with the state Insurance Division requesting an average rate increase of 11.5 percent for its small-business and community-rated groups, and a 9.9 percent increase was approved; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, HMSA raised rates 4.9 percent for its community-rated groups and have requested an additional 3.8 percent increase in 2006 for its Preferred Provider Plan, which is the most popular plan for Hawaii's insured; and

WHEREAS, Kaiser Permanente, the state's second largest insurer implemented an 11.7 percent rate increase in 2004 to finance multi-million dollar new construction projects and a new medical record system; and

WHEREAS, at the beginning of 2006, Kaiser Permanente implemented a three percent increase; and

WHEREAS, technological advances in the provision of healthcare services is another factor in increasing healthcare costs, and although this new technology has greatly improved the quality of life for patients, it has also resulted in higher costs; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that new technology is responsible for almost 50 percent of the total increase in healthcare costs over the last 30 years; and

WHEREAS, while Medicaid and QUEST provide health coverage for some of the uninsured, coverage is usually minimal and there is still a "gap group" that is neither insured nor eligible for Medicaid or QUEST; and

WHEREAS, as healthcare costs escalate, hospitals and nursing homes suffer massive financial losses, in part because of inadequate reimbursement rates that do not even cover the actual cost of care; and

WHEREAS, a decade ago, Hawaii led the nation in having the highest rate of insured individuals, but has since dropped to tenth, with over 120,000 uninsured individuals; and

WHEREAS, a solution needs to be provided soon to prevent a further increase in the number of uninsured and to prevent increased state Medicaid and other healthcare costs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature respectfully requests the participation of the Governor or her designee in a joint Legislative/Executive Branch Work Group (Work Group) dedicated to finding affordable solutions to Hawaii's healthcare crisis; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Work Group should include:

(1) Three members appointed by the Governor;

(2) Three members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) Two members appointed by the Insurance Commissioner;

(5) One member of the National Association of Social Workers – Hawaii Chapter; and

(6) One consumer advocate;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Work Group select a chairperson from among its members and the number of members necessary to constitute a quorum to do business consist of a majority of all members of the Work Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Work Group should include healthcare leaders statewide in addition to formally inviting members of the 2005 Healthcare Task Force to address the growing crisis in healthcare in Hawaii, which includes but is not limited to:

(1) Shortages in physician specialists on our Neighbor Islands and in rural areas of the state;

(2) Rising Medicaid malpractice rates for physician specialists;

(3) Shortages in nurses;

(4) Inadequate trauma teams statewide; and

(5) Spiraling costs of all healthcare services;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that among the subjects the Work Group should consider are:

(1) Recommendations on medical malpractice reform for Hawaii;

(2) Incentives such as loan forgiveness or tax incentives to attract healthcare workers to Hawaii's underserved areas;

(3) Expansion of federally qualified community health centers with state funding to increase care for the poor or uninsured;

(4) High-deductible health insurance plans for uninsured, younger individuals;

(5) Facilitation of the on-going discussion about single-payer, universal healthcare; and

(6) Any proposed legislation to effect the purposes of this concurrent resolution;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Work Group take up the work of the 2005 Healthcare Task Force, which expires on June 30, 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Work Group should formally invite current members of the 2005 Healthcare Task Force to continue with the Work Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Work Group should meet at least once quarterly during a calendar year and report annually, until 2010, to the Governor and the Legislature at least 20 days prior to the start of each regular legislative session, beginning with the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the 2005 Healthcare Task Force.

 

 

Report Title:

Respectfully requesting the participation of the Governor or the Governor's designee in a joint legislative/executive branch work group dedicated to finding affordable solutions to Hawaii's healthcare crisis.