Bill Text: HI SB666 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Task Force; Emergency Services Patient Advocate Program ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-26 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-26-13 4:30PM in conference room 229. [SB666 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2013-SB666-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
666 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that sick and vulnerable patients and their family members can easily become overwhelmed within the medical system, especially when emergency medical attention is necessary. Patients may be unaware of their rights regarding the treatment and care they receive from their emergency room physicians. There may be times when patients or their family members disagree with the diagnosis or treatment plan provided by the emergency room physicians, but feel forced to accept the treatment plan despite their reservations or concerns because they are unaware of how to effectively exercise their rights to secure appropriate and available emergency medical care. Thus, the legislature finds that a patient advocate is needed to assist in effective case management and intervene for the purpose of better communication among patients, their family members, and health care providers in emergency situations.
The purpose of this Act is to establish an emergency services patient advocate program to provide assistance to and advocate on behalf of patients receiving emergency medical care to enable patients and their family members to recognize and exercise their rights to secure appropriate and available emergency medical care.
SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§321- Emergency services patient advocate program; purpose; established. (a) The department of health shall establish an emergency services patient advocate program to provide assistance to and advocate on behalf of patients receiving emergency medical care. The purpose of the emergency services patient advocate program is to inform and educate patients and their family members about their rights and responsibilities as patients and to assist in resolving issues relating to the patients' emergency medical care received or adequacy of emergency medical care received at hospitals until the appropriate hospital staff has an opportunity to review their case and render a decision relating to the patients' emergency medical care.
(b) The director of health shall adopt rules necessary for the purposes of this section pursuant to chapter 91."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Emergency Medical Care; Department of Health
Description:
Establishes an emergency services patient advocate program to provide assistance to and advocate on behalf of individuals receiving emergency medical care. Requires the department of health to adopt rules related to implementation of the program. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
