Honolulu, Hawaii
H.D. 1
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 72 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT POLICIES THAT ENSURE NOTIFICATION BY ALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO THE GOVERNOR-DESIGNATED PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY ENTITY OR AGENCY PRIOR TO TRANSFERRING ANY INDIVIDUAL OUT-OF-STATE TO A TREATMENT, REHABILITATION, OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to uphold the civil rights of our frail elderly and disabled population by requesting the Department of Health (DOH) to develop and adopt policies that ensure notification by all healthcare facilities and healthcare providers to the Governor-designated protection and advocacy entity or agency prior to transferring any individual out-of-state to a treatment, rehabilitation, or long-term care facility.
The Hawaii Disability Rights Center and a concerned individual supported this concurrent resolution. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH) supported the intent of this measure. Several concerned individuals did not support this concurrent resolution. DOH opposed this measure. The Department of Human Services and Queen's Medical Center submitted comments.
Your Committees have amended this concurrent resolution by:
(1) Changing its scope to focus on the financial impacts incurred by Hawaii's hospitals and the shortage of long term-care facilities in Hawaii; and
(2) Requesting HAH to study this problem and report back to the Legislature.
Accordingly, the title of this measure has been amended to read: "REQUESTING THE HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM OF PATIENTS IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS WAITLISTED FOR LONG-TERM CARE AND TO PROPOSE SOLUTIONS."
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 72, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 72, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing,
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KARL A. RHOADS, Acting Chair and Vice Chair |
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____________________________ JOHN MIZUNO, Acting Chair and Vice Chair |
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