| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the center for nursing for administrative purposes a rural health task force. The task force shall consist of the following members: (1) The chairperson of the advisory board for the center for nursing, or the chairperson's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the task force; (2) The rural health coordinator of the office of primary care and rural health of the department of health; (3) The supervisor of the Maui public health nursing section of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; (4) The supervisor of the Molokai public health nursing office of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; (5) The supervisor of the Lanai public health nursing office of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; and (6) One representative from each of the following federally qualified health care centers and rural health care facilities, to be invited by the chairperson: (A) Hana Health; (B) Molokai General Hospital; (C) Lanai Community Health Center; (D) Malama I Ke Ola Health Center; and (E) Molokai Community Health Center. (b) The task force shall prepare and develop solutions for, and make recommendations regarding, the recruitment of registered nurses, accountability and management of registered nurse retention, and facility-specific needs for the health care sector in rural areas of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The task force shall base its plans and solutions on studies and data related to improving the recruitment of registered nurses in rural areas and retention of registered nurses based on a nurse-to-patient ratio. The duties of the task force shall include but are not limited to: (1) Considering the needs of rural health care facilities on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; (2) Managing the ratio of registered nurses to patients in each rural health care facility on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; (3) Developing recommendations for affordable workforce housing to manage retention of registered nurses; (4) Surveying the demand for telehealth-based medical direction; (5) Considering further retention options, including travel nurses; (6) Analyzing the impact that nurse retention has on rural health care facilities; and (7) Researching current best practices for retaining registered nurses. (c) To inform the assessment required by this Act, the center for nursing shall engage professionals from the University of Hawaii Maui College nursing program, as well as Maui Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente, for input on the plans, solutions, and recommendations developed by the task force. (d) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in carrying out their official duties pursuant to this Act. (e) The task force shall submit a preliminary report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023. The task force shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024. (f) The task force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2024. SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the department of health for administrative purposes a rural health task force. The task force shall consist of the following members: (1) The director of health, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson; (2) The rural health coordinator of the office of primary care and rural health of the department of health; (3) The supervisor of the Maui public health nursing section of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; (4) The supervisor of the Molokai public health nursing office of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; (5) The supervisor of the Lanai public health nursing office of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; and (6) One representative from each of the following federally qualified health care centers and rural health care facilities, to be invited by the chairperson: (A) Hana Health; (B) Molokai General Hospital; (C) Lanai Community Health Center; (D) Malama I Ke Ola Health Center; and (E) Molokai Community Health Center. (b) The task force shall prepare and develop solutions for, and make recommendations regarding, the recruitment of registered nurses, accountability and management of registered nurse retention, and facility-specific needs for the health care sector in rural areas of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The task force shall base its plans and solutions on studies and data related to improving the recruitment of registered nurses in rural areas and retention of registered nurses based on a nurse-to-patient ratio. The duties of the task force shall include but are not limited to: (1) Considering the needs of rural health care facilities in Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; (2) Managing the ratio of registered nurses to patients in each rural health care facility in Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; (3) Developing recommendations for affordable workforce housing to manage retention of registered nurses; (4) Surveying the demand for telehealth-based medical direction; (5) Considering further retention options, including travel nurses; (6) Analyzing the impact that nurse retention has on rural health care facilities; and (7) Researching current best practices for retaining registered nurses. (c) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in carrying out their official duties pursuant to this Act. (d) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023. (e) The task force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2023. SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060. |
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