| 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 communities 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 rural health care facilities, to be invited by the chairperson: (A) Hana Community Health Center; (B) Molokai General Hospital; (C) Lanai Community Health Center; and (D) Molokai Community Health Center. (b) The task force shall prepare and develop solutions 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 east 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) Taking account of the needs of rural health care facilities in east Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; (2) Managing the ratio of registered nurses to patients in each rural health care facility in east 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 nurse retention has on rural health care facilities; and (7) Researching current best practices on 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 dues pursuant to this Act. No member of the task force shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the task force. (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 January 1, 2050. |
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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 director of human services, or the director's designee; (3) The rural health communities coordinator of the office of primary care and rural health of the department of health; (4) The supervisor of the Maui public health nursing section of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; (5) The supervisor of the Molokai public health nursing office of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; (6) The supervisor of the Lanai public health nursing office of the department of health, or the supervisor's designee; and (7) One representative from each of the following rural health care facilities, to be invited by the chairperson: (A) Hana Community Health Center; (B) Molokai General Hospital; and (C) Lanai Community Health Center. (b) The task force shall prepare and develop solutions 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 east 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) Taking account of the needs of rural health care facilities in east Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; (2) Managing the ratio of registered nurses to patients in each rural health care facility in east 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 nurse retention has on rural health care facilities; and (7) Researching current best practices on 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 dues 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 upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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