Report Title:
Emergency Medical Services; Aeromedical Helicopter
Description:
Appropriates funds to department of health to contract with a government agency or U.S. military branch to provide intra‑island roto-wing aeromedical services for rural Oahu.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
625 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the United States Army's 68th Medical Company's Medical Assistance to Safety and Traffic helicopters have served Hawaii for more than thirty years. These military aeromedical helicopters have transported over seven thousand patients and saved countless lives by transporting patients from rural areas, particularly in West Oahu and the North Shore of Oahu to hospitals located in Honolulu. However, due to the increased military activity particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq, the aeromedical helicopters of Hawaii's Army national guard helicopter unit have been subject to deployment.
The legislature recognizes that the free medevac services provided by the active Army and Hawaii Army national guard helicopter units are not guaranteed, and the result could be that rural Oahu residents may be left without aeromedical services.
The aeromedical helicopters have provided a vital service at no cost to rural Oahu. The legislature believes that providing intra-island aeromedical services to rural Oahu is necessary for the health and safety of residents and therefore is a matter of statewide concern.
It is not the intent of this Act to supplant existing ground or fixed-wing transport, especially for routine or non-emergency inter-facility transportation. The aeromedical helicopter unit shall use triage protocols to ensure the medically appropriate dispatch of the unit. Helicopter use shall be based on national aeromedical triage and transport guidelines as established by the Association of Air Medical Services, the American College of Surgeons, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to provide intra-island emergency aeromedical services to rural Oahu only.
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 2009-2010, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011, for the director of health to contract with an existing government agency or United States military unit to provide intra-island roto-wing emergency aeromedical services for rural Oahu only:
(1) Provided that the emergency aeromedical helicopter services:
(A) Shall not supplant existing ground or fixed-wing transport, especially for routine or non‑emergency inter-facility transportation; and
(B) Shall use triage protocols that are based on national aeromedical, triage, and transport guidelines established by the Association of Air Medical Services, the American College of Surgeons, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians; and
(2) Provided further that the city and county of Honolulu shall share equally with the State in the cost to contract with an existing government agency or United States military unit to provide intra-island roto-wing aeromedical services for rural Oahu only; provided that no moneys shall be made available under this Act unless the city and county of Honolulu provides $ for the purpose for which the sums are appropriated.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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