Bill Text: HI SCR100 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 100 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Health To Establish A Certification Process, An Oversight Board, And A Reimbursement Process For Services For Community Health Workers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-14 - Referred to CPH/LBR, WAM. [SCR100 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SCR100-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	100
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of health to establish a certification process, an oversight board, and a reimbursement process for services for community health workers.

WHEREAS, community health workers are an integral part of Hawaii's healthcare workforce; and

WHEREAS, community health workers serve diverse communities including low-income, underserved rural areas, all ethnicities, children, adults, families, elderly individuals, uninsured individuals, homeless individuals, immigrants, and migrant workers; and

WHEREAS, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projected community health workers to be one of the fastest growing occupations; and

WHEREAS, local and state health departments, community based organizations, hospitals, clinics, foundations, and researchers increasingly recognize the important contributions of community health workers, such as promoting the health of low-income and at risk communities; and

WHEREAS, according to a 2015 report to the Maryland General Assembly, community health workers are trusted frontline public health workers who have a close understanding of the community being served; and

WHEREAS, this trusting relationship enables community health workers to serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery; and

WHEREAS, community health workers build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies community health workers as members of a delivery team in a clinical setting � along with doctors, nurses, and social workers, by helping patients navigate the health care system, administer basic health screenings, provide health education, inform communities about available services, and advocate for community change; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to establish a certification process, including a retroactive certification process for established community health workers, an oversight board, and a reimbursement process for services provided by community health workers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is encouraged to consult with other state departments, agencies, and community stakeholders for the establishment of the certification process, oversight board, and reimbursement process for services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is encouraged to consider:

(1) A certification process with two tiers of community health workers, which should be designated based on work and education experience;

(2) An oversight body to provide input to the Legislature and oversee community health workers;

(3) A retroactive certification process for community health workers who have completed at least eighty hours of training and two thousand hours of experience prior to the establishment of a certification program; and

(4) Multiple sources of payment to community health workers,

when establishing the certification process, oversight board, and reimbursement process for services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is encouraged to consider core competencies such as the following when developing competency standards for certification:

(1) Effective oral and written communication skills;

(2) Cultural competency;

(3) Knowledge of local resources and health care system navigation;

(4) Advocacy and community capacity building skills;

(5) Care coordination skills;

(6) Ability to teach skills to promote healthy behavior change;

(7) Knowledge of outreach methods and strategies;

(8) Ability to address needs and identify resources;

(9) Understanding of public health concepts and health literacy;

(10) Understanding of ethics and confidentiality issues; and

(11) Ability to use and understand health information technology; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.