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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
150 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE PHYSICIAN ON-CALL CRISIS.
WHEREAS, Americans assume that they will have access to lifesaving emergency care when they need it, but the reality is that there is a growing crisis in emergency care; and
WHEREAS, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) studied the nation's emergency care and recently issued a report entitled, "The National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine," which concluded that the national emergency health care system is in serious condition, and many states have serious deficiencies; and
WHEREAS, the ACEP report determined that the causes of the national emergency care crisis include the following:
(1) A record number of patients going to emergency departments;
(2) A reduction in the capacity of the nation’s emergency systems;
(3) A significant loss of medical-surgical beds and intensive care unit beds;
(4) Rising amounts of uncompensated care due to the federal mandate to screen and stabilize all patients regardless of their ability to pay;
(5) Reductions in payments from private insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid; and
(6) Reductions in state health budgets;
and
WHEREAS, the ACEP report includes a comparison of all states, and Hawaii ranked 34th in the nation, receiving a rating of "C-"; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii’s Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) recently issued a report entitled, On-Call Crisis in Trauma Care: Government Responses, which included the finding that trauma centers across the nation have for many years been facing a crisis securing physician specialists for emergency call; and
WHEREAS, the LRB report identified the following causes of the on-call physician specialist shortage:
(1) The cost of care has increased, while payments to physicians from health plans, Medicare, and Medicaid have dramatically decreased;
(2) Many physician specialists have reduced or eliminated emergency call in favor of a more predictable lifestyle;
(3) There is a national shortage of physician specialists in many areas critical for trauma coverage; and
(4) Malpractice liability insurance premiums are rising;
and
WHEREAS, the on-call physician crisis must be addressed in order to ensure the integrity of emergency and trauma care in Hawaii; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Insurance Commissioner is requested to convene a task force to examine provider reimbursement versus cost of care issues as they relate to the physician on-call crisis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives of health care organizations that have emergency departments and health care insurance companies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force gather relevant information, discuss possible solutions, and develop recommendations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Insurance Commissioner submit a report to the Legislature of the activities of the task force, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Insurance Commissioner, the Director of Health, the President of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Chief Executive Officers of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Management Alliance Association, University Health Alliance, and Summerlin Life & Health Insurance Company.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
Insurance Reimbursement Physician On-call Crisis.