| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Pacific Islander communities have been affected by COVID-19 at higher numbers than any other community of color in the State. Compact of Free Association benefit recipients have been particularly adversely impacted. Unfortunately, many Compact of Free Association benefit recipients have experienced prejudice and discrimination in the health care system and no longer use medical facilities as a first option to treat illnesses. Compact of Free Association benefit recipients instead use these facilities as an option of last resort that often results in a much more severe prognosis than if the patient had received treatment at an earlier stage. The legislature further finds that, with the reinstatement of the medicaid and children's health insurance program by the United States Congress on December 20, 2020, Compact of Free Association benefit recipients are now able to participate in medicaid and will no longer be a part of the largely uninsured population in Hawaii. In 2018, the United States Census Bureau estimated the number of Compact of Free Association benefit recipients in the State to be approximately sixteen thousand persons. Therefore, investing in programs to bridge the cultural and language gaps between health care providers and Compact of Free Association benefit recipients, as well as other communities with similar cultural and language barriers, will help to alleviate the financial burden on the State and mitigate revenue loss by medical facilities that provide service and care for individuals who are uninsured. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to: (1) Require that the Hawaii health systems corporation convene a task force to facilitate improved, mission-driven hiring and training of culturally-accepted interpreters and create culturally-accepted educational materials on preventative care and early intervention to assist non-English speaking populations seeking care at health care facilities; and (2) Appropriate moneys to support the work of the task force. SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii health systems corporation shall convene a task force to facilitate improved, mission-driven hiring and training of culturally-accepted interpreters and create culturally-accepted educational materials on preventative care and early intervention to assist non-English speaking populations seeking care at health care facilities. The task force shall include the following members: (1) The chief executive officer of the Hawaii health systems corporation, who shall serve as chair of the task force; (2) The director of health, or the director's designee; (3) The director of human services, or the director's designee; (4) One representative from The Queen's Health Systems, who shall be invited to participate by the chair; (5) One representative from the office of language access; (6) Two members of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate; (7) Two members of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (8) Four Compact of Free Association community leaders, who shall be invited to participate by the chair. (b) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, incurred for serving on the task force. No member shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation as a member of the task force. (c) The task force, with the assistance of the Hawaii health systems corporation and department of health, 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 2024. (d) The task force shall be dissolved on June 30, 2024. SECTION 3. 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 2022-2023 to support the work of the task force established in section 2 of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Pacific Islander communities have been affected by COVID-19 at higher numbers than any other community of color in the State. Compact of Free Association benefit recipients have been particularly adversely impacted. Unfortunately, many Compact of Free Association benefit recipients have experienced prejudice and discrimination in the health care system and no longer use medical facilities as a first option to treat illnesses. Compact of Free Association benefit recipients instead use these facilities as an option of last resort that often results in a much more severe prognosis than if the patient had received treatment at an earlier stage. The legislature further finds that, with the reinstatement of the medicaid and children's health insurance program by the United States Congress on December 20, 2020, Compact of Free Association benefit recipients are now able to participate in medicaid and will no longer be a part of the largely uninsured population in Hawaii. In 2018, the United States Census Bureau estimated the number of Compact of Free Association benefit recipients in the State to be approximately sixteen thousand persons. Therefore, investing in programs to bridge the cultural and language gaps between health care providers and Compact of Free Association benefit recipients, as well as other communities with similar cultural and language barriers, will help to alleviate the financial burden on the State and mitigate revenue loss by medical facilities that provide service and care for individuals who are uninsured. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to: (1) Require that the Hawaii health systems corporation convene a task force to facilitate improved, mission-driven hiring and training of culturally-accepted interpreters and create culturally-accepted educational materials on preventative care and early intervention to assist non-English speaking populations seeking care at health care facilities; and (2) Appropriate moneys to support the work of the task force. SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii health systems corporation shall convene a task force to facilitate improved, mission-driven hiring and training of culturally-accepted interpreters and create culturally-accepted educational materials on preventative care and early intervention to assist non-English speaking populations seeking care at health care facilities. The task force shall include the following members: (1) The chief executive officer of the Hawaii health systems corporation, who shall serve as chair; (2) The director of health, or the director's designee; (3) The director of human services, or the director's designee; (4) One representative from The Queen's Health Systems, who shall be invited to participate by the chair; (5) One representative from the office of language access; (6) Two members of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate; (7) Two members of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (8) Four Compact of Free Association community leaders, who shall be invited to participate by the chair. (b) The members of the task force shall not be compensated for their service on the task force but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, incurred for serving on the task force. No member shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation as a member of the task force. (c) The task force, with the assistance of the Hawaii health systems corporation and the department of health, shall submit a written 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. The task force shall be dissolved on June 30, 2024. SECTION 3. 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 2022-2023 to support the work of the task force established in section 2 of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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