THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	146
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A HEALTH CARE REFORM TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE METHODS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY, SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, AND COST OF HAWAII'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, TO REDUCE MEDICAL ERRORS AND INCREASE PATIENT SAFETY, TO SEEK SOLUTIONS TO ELIMINATE DOCTOR SHORTAGES, AND TO ADDRESS THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN COMPENSATING VICTIMS INJURED BECAUSE OF MEDICAL ERRORS.

     WHEREAS, improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and cost of medical care provided by Hawaii's health care system is universally regarded as a primary goal of health care reform; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's health care system is perceived to be weak in attracting and retaining physicians to practice in Hawaii, particularly in rural areas; and

     WHEREAS, various factors have been identified over the years as contributing to this perceived weakness, including the adequacy of reimbursements for services provided, the cost of malpractice insurance premiums, particularly for certain medical specialties, and the need to practice medicine defensively; and

     WHEREAS, previous efforts at piecemeal reform of the health care system have been largely unsuccessful in improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and cost of medical care in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, improving the health care system requires analysis and evaluation of the system as a whole to identify and improve those factors that actually contribute to identifiable weaknesses; and

     WHEREAS, it is time to adopt a new approach to reforming Hawaii's health care system that seeks to examine the core issues that contribute to system weaknesses by putting to work a coalition of interested parties to develop new approaches to reforming the health care system; and

     WHEREAS, the primary objective of such a coalition is to bring stakeholders in Hawaii to a neutral forum to assist in developing new policies and laws to strengthen the health care system through a factually-based consensus-building process, while emphasizing that health care system reform must strengthen linkages between accountability and improving the quality of patient care and safety; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to evaluate methods to reduce medical errors and increase patient safety, seek solutions to eliminate doctor shortages, address the role and impact of the legal system in compensating victims injured because of medical errors, and improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and cost of Hawaii's health care system; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Healthcare Association of Hawaii is requested to convene a health care reform task force, to be chaired by the Chairpersons of the Senate and House Committees on Health, to evaluate methods to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and cost of Hawaii's health care system, to reduce medical errors and increase patient safety, to seek solutions to eliminate doctor shortages, and to address the role and impact of the legal system in compensating victims injured because of medical errors; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include representation from the following:

(1)  Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively;

(2)  The Department of Health;

(3)  The Department of the Attorney General;

(4)  The William S. Richardson School of Law of the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

(5)  The John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

(6)  The Hawaii Insurance Commissioner;

(7)  The Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

(8)  The Hawaii Medical Association;

(9)  The Hawaii Association for Justice;

    (10)  Attorneys licensed to practice in the State;

    (11)  Consumer advocates;

    (12)  Health care providers;

    (13)  Hawaii medical malpractice insurers;

    (14)  The Hawaii Association of Physicians for Indemnification;

    (15)  The Hawaii State Rural Health Association;

    (16)  Two representatives of different health insurance plans offering coverage in the State of Hawaii; and

    (17)  Representatives of other healthcare disciplines, besides physicians, as designated by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii as convener of this task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthcare Association of Hawaii is requested to provide administrative support for the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of House of Representatives, Director of Health, Attorney General, Dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law, Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Insurance Commissioner, President of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Executive Director of the Hawaii Medical

Association, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Association for Justice, the Hawaii Association of Physicians, and Hawaii State Rural Health Association.

Report Title: 

Joint Legislative Task Force; Health Care Reform