Report Title:

Hospital; South Maui and Lahaina

Description:

Requires Hawaii health systems corporation to develop a plan to establish a hospital in South Maui and in Lahaina, Maui.  Requires corporation to submit plan to legislature by 12/31/2008.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2419
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to hospitals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the de facto population of the county of Maui increased thirty-five per cent from 134,569 in 1990 to 181,534 in 2005.  The populations living in Kahului, Kihei, and Lahaina are the three highest in Maui county, with the exception of Wailuku.  The legislature further finds that Lahaina in West Maui has undergone rapid growth as the visitor industry in the area has blossomed.  However, access in and out of the Lahaina area is served by only one major highway that may be closed for days at a moment's notice, which occurred in the past two years due to wildfires.  Even as the resident and working populations have increased in Lahaina, access to medical care has not kept pace as Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku remains the only hospital facility on the island of Maui.

     The legislature also finds that residents of Kihei and the South Maui region are in the same situation where there is an acute need for a hospital facility.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii health systems corporation to develop a plan to establish a hospital in South Maui and in Lahaina, Maui.

     SECTION 2.  Establishment of hospitals; Lahaina; and South Maui; Hawaii health systems corporation; plans; report.  (a)  No later than December 31, 2008, the Hawaii health systems corporation shall develop a plan to establish a hospital facility in Lahaina and in South Maui.  The plan shall include at least the following:

     (1)  Identification of suitable sites in the Lahaina area and in South Maui for the location of the hospitals;

     (2)  An estimate of costs of planning, design, and construction of the two hospitals;

     (3)  An estimate of financial resources available to fund the establishment and ongoing operation of the two hospitals;

     (4)  A plan to generate necessary financial resources;

     (5)  An estimate of staffing and personnel requirements for the two hospitals;

     (6)  A determination of the types of hospital services to be offered in the two hospitals; and

     (7)  Any other considerations that the corporation deems necessary or prudent.

     (b)  The president of the Hawaii health systems corporation shall submit the plan required under subsection (a) along with findings and recommendations, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than December 31, 2008.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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