Requires DHS, Maui memorial medical center, & Maui community college nursing program to conduct a 2-year study of in-home telehealth monitoring services to high-risk/high-cost medicaid patients with frequent hospitalizations. Requires interim and final report. Appropriates $     for FY 2005-2006 & 2006-2007.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the population of blind, elderly, and disabled medicaid patients in Hawaii is increasing. Furthermore, the cost of caring for these patients is also increasing. It is clear that traditional methods of caring for this population will not be able to keep up with increasing costs. Innovative care strategies are required such as the use of in-home telehealth services. The use of telehealth monitoring services, together with case management, is anticipated to reduce hospital re-admissions and lengths of stay in hospitals for patients with frequent hospitalizations.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to initiate a pilot study on the island of Maui relating to the use of in-home telehealth monitoring services for high-risk/high-cost blind, elderly, and disabled medicaid patients with frequent hospitalizations.

SECTION 2. (a) The director of human services shall conduct a two-year pilot study in the county of Maui on the use of in-home telehealth monitoring services in conjunction with community case management for the benefit of high-risk/high-cost blind, elderly, and disabled patients with frequent hospitalizations. The director shall select approximately thirty such patients on the island of Maui. The study shall use the appropriate telehealth monitoring equipment and install or retrofit the equipment as appropriate. Monitoring shall be performed by a nurse practitioner who shall report regularly to the patients' primary physicians, according to the study protocols to be developed.

(b) The director shall team with Maui memorial medical center and the Maui community college nursing program in the conduct of the pilot study, including the development of the study protocols. The pilot study shall endeavor to create a template for future program expansion to other islands.

(c) The director of human services shall submit an interim report to the legislature no later than December 1, 2005, and a final report no later than December 1, 2006, detailing findings and recommendations, including cost savings, hospital re-admission rates, and lengths of stay for patients in the pilot study, and any necessary proposed legislation for the legislature's consideration during the regular session of 2007.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for a two-year pilot study in the county of Maui on the use of in-home telehealth monitoring services, in conjunction with community case management, for the benefit of high-risk/high-cost blind, elderly, and disabled patients with frequent hospitalizations; provided that the appropriated amounts shall be used for the appropriate telehealth monitoring equipment, including installation or retrofitting as appropriate, salary of a nurse practitioner, development of study protocols, and for research and office expenses.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.