Hawaii Senate Bill SB1238

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/23
• Refer: 1/30/23

Caption

Relating To Access To Health Care.

Impact

The proposed legislation mandates enhancements in healthcare delivery through various measures, including the expansion of telehealth services and the introduction of a medical ground transportation service. By utilizing federal broadband grant funding, the program aims to improve internet access and train caregivers in the use of telehealth technology. Additionally, it requires the establishment of at-home visitations by healthcare providers to provide essential services directly to patients' homes. These initiatives are expected to lower the barriers to care for elderly residents living in remote areas of Hawaii County, facilitating more timely and appropriate medical interventions.

Summary

Senate Bill 1238 establishes the Kupuna Rural Health Care Pilot Program within Hawaii's Department of Health with the aim of improving healthcare access for residents in rural areas, particularly the elderly. The legislature recognizes that necessary healthcare services are often out of reach for vulnerable populations due to a lack of providers, transportation issues, and limited financial resources. This pilot program seeks to address these challenges by focusing on telehealth services and in-home care options to better serve residents who might otherwise be neglected due to logistical complications.

Contention

While the bill points toward significant improvements in rural healthcare access, there may be points of contention regarding funding and resource allocation. The program is reliant on appropriating funds from state general revenues, which necessitates careful consideration of budget impacts and the feasibility of maintaining long-term support for its objectives. There might also be debates surrounding the effectiveness of the pilot program in delivering the expected outcomes and whether the models employed could be expanded statewide or require adjustments after the pilot phase concludes. As such, the monitoring and reporting mechanisms included in the bill are likely to play a crucial role in evaluating the program's success.