Report Title:

Health Care Workforce; Map; Database; Supply and Distribution

Description:

Establishes a statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database to compile and analyze data on the supply and distribution of all health care workers by specialty and practice location.  Appropriates funds.  (SD2)

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

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 there is a growing shortage of health care professionals in Hawaii, especially on the neighbor islands and in rural areas.  The State's rapidly growing elderly population will significantly increase the demand for health care services and long-term care.  As the general population ages, so does the health care workforce, exacerbating the growing shortage of providers.  In addition, low reimbursement rates, issues related to living and working in remote communities, challenging working conditions, and the cost of medical malpractice insurance continue to create barriers to the recruitment and retention of health care providers, particularly in certain specialty areas.

     Even people who have health insurance are often unable to access appropriate care due to the shortage of health care workers.  A fully staffed, well-trained health care workforce is a key component in providing quality health care to all Hawaii residents.

     Data is critical to understanding our healthcare workforce needs.  The state health planning and development agency, the statewide Area Health Education Center, the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program, the Primary Care Association, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the department of health's primary care office, and other state agencies and professional organizations are part of a Workforce Hui that has long been in discussion of a database that will help determine workforce needs from a full supply standpoint.  This bill is intended to acknowledge the work of the Workforce Hui and support those collaborative efforts by providing funding to collect and enter data and establish a database for workforce needs analysis to be done.

     The purpose of this Act is to develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database to:

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

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

     (3)  Project and develop a plan to meet future health care workforce needs.

     SECTION 2.  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 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the state health planning and development agency to develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the state health planning and development agency for the purposes of this Act.

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