SB69 HD2

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	69
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the state's rapidly aging population will significantly increase the demand for health care services and long-term care. Regrettably, there is a growing shortage of health care professionals in Hawaii, especially on the neighbor islands and in rural areas. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that as we lose essential health care providers, our current health care workforce continues to age, exacerbating the growing shortage of providers. Low reimbursement rates, issues related to living and working in remote communities, challenging working conditions, and the cost of medical malpractice insurance also continue to create barriers to recruitment and retention of health care providers, especially in certain specialty areas.

While we struggle to provide adequate health insurance for all of Hawaii's citizens, the health care workforce shortage will continue to leave many without access to appropriate care. A fully staffed, well-trained health care workforce is a key component in providing quality health care to all Hawaii residents.

The purpose of this Act is to develop and maintain a secure statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database, to identify health care workforce shortages through 2020, and to develop a plan to improve any workforce shortages. Nurses are exempt, as Act 198, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, creates a center for nursing that addresses nursing workforce issues. Like the nursing shortage, workforce shortages in other health care professions must be seen as a long-term problem. Developing expertise within our state will be cost-effective over time. Therefore, a partnership between the State and the University of Hawaii will be an important element in creating solutions to the health care workforce shortage problem.

The John A. Burns school of medicine shall:

(1) Compile and analyze existing data on the supply and distribution of licensed health care practitioners, technicians, and other health care workers in the state by profession, specialty, and practice location;

(2) Develop projections through 2020 of the workforce supply and demand to identify shortages;

(3) Develop a plan to address and reduce any identified shortages of health care workers;

(4) Develop a plan to collect and systematically update the data; and

(5) Ensure that data collected is accurate and secure and that data specific to any practitioner shall be disclosed only with the express written consent of the practitioner.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the state health planning and development agency special fund the sum of $500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the John A. Burns school of medicine to develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database, to identify health care workforce shortages through 2020, and to develop a plan to improve any health care workforce shortages.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.