Bill Text: HI HCR108 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Health To Explore Ways It Can Exercise Oversight Over Community Health Centers When A Danger To The Community's Health Exists.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Tuesday 03-17-20 8:30AM in conference room 329. [HCR108 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HCR108-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

108

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Department of Health to explore ways it can exercise oversight over community health centers when a danger to the community's health exists.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 9 of the Hawaii State Constitution requires the State to "provide for the protection and promotion of the public health"; and

 

     WHEREAS, community health centers, also known as federally qualified health centers, are the cornerstone of Hawaii's health care system and provide essential services to the State's most vulnerable populations; and

 

     WHEREAS, because community health centers often serve federally recognized areas where residents face barriers to getting health care, the State must ensure that these centers provide proficient medical services to its residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, recent events have demonstrated the importance of ensuring that community health centers and other medical service entities are properly staffed and skillfully managed; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2019, the only community health center on the island of Molokai closed for four days in August due to staff shortages; specifically, the center did not have a physician on staff, in violation of federal requirements; and

 

     WHEREAS, the closure of the clinic put the health and safety of Molokai residents, who were unable to see a doctor or obtain crucial medication, at risk; and

 

     WHEREAS, although state officials attempted to investigate the center following the closures, the health center refused to cooperate with the investigation; and

     WHEREAS, other types of medical service entities have also experienced disturbing incidents, including a high-profile event involving the death of a child at a Kailua dental practice; and

 

     WHEREAS, given these past events and the Hawaii State Constitution's mandate that the State provide for the protection and promotion of the public health, it is incumbent upon the State to study ways to ensure that community health centers and other medical service entities are providing proficient services to the communities they serve; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to conduct a study that explores options for it to provide better oversight over community health centers, dental clinics, and other medical service entities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to include:

 

     (1)  A recommendation regarding additional authority that the Department of Health requires to adequately oversee community health centers, dental clinics, and other medical service entities;

 

     (2)  An overview of other jurisdictions that oversee these types of medical service entities, and how those jurisdictions provide oversight;

 

     (3)  A recommendation regarding whether the Governor, Department of Health, or another entity should have the authority to order the closure of a medical service entity, or take control of a medical service entity, if there is a threat to the health and safety of the community or if a determination is made that the medical service entity is not providing proper medical services; and

 

     (4)  Recommendations for additional staffing and support for the Department of Health to adequately provide oversight to medical service entities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report to the Legislature of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Health.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Health; Community Health Centers; Oversight; Study

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