Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB754 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 754 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to behavioral health. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 754
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to behavioral health.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that social isolation and loneliness are intimately linked to poor health. Data from March 2020 show that significantly more people reported negative mental health effects while sheltering in place due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than those not sheltering in place. Physical isolation and loneliness during COVID-19 may present specific health risks for households containing adolescents and older adults in particular. The legislature further finds that the current behavioral health crisis disproportionately affects residents in underserved rural communities, such as the Kaū district in the county of Hawaii. For residents in Kaū, seeking care requires traveling approximately seventy miles to Kona or fifty miles to Hilo, with few options for care within immediate reach. In addition to this physical barrier, little privacy and stigmatization of behavioral health within small tight-knit communities further deters residents from seeking care. The legislature further finds that the county of Hawaii is facing a severe behavioral health crisis. Between 2018 and 2022, the department of health's behavioral health services administration reported 3,517 discharges related to mental health disorders and 7,416 discharges related to substance abuse. These statistics represent only those individuals who sought care. Estimates for the number of individuals in the county suffering from behavioral health issues are nearly double those reported. The legislature further finds that rural health clinics serve an essential role in underserved communities, including Kaū. Rural health clinics address the dearth of physicians serving medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, increasing availability of and access to medically necessary face-to-face primary health services performed by rural health clinic practitioners, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, clinical psychologists, and social workers. The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii health systems corporation to partner with a nonprofit organization in the Kaū district in the county of Hawaii to conduct a needs assessment to determine the demand for and access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services in Kaū. SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii health systems corporation shall partner with a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve access to quality health care in rural communities in the Kaū district in the county of Hawaii, such as the Kaū Rural Health Community Association, Inc., to conduct a needs assessment to determine the demand for and access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services in Kaū. (b) The Hawaii health systems corporation 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. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that social isolation and loneliness are intimately linked to poor health. Data from March 2020 show that significantly more people reported negative mental health effects while sheltering in place due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than those not sheltering in place. Physical isolation and loneliness during COVID-19 may present specific health risks for households containing adolescents and older adults in particular.
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51	51	The legislature further finds that the current behavioral health crisis disproportionately affects residents in underserved rural communities, such as the Kaū district in the county of Hawaii. For residents in Kaū, seeking care requires traveling approximately seventy miles to Kona or fifty miles to Hilo, with few options for care within immediate reach. In addition to this physical barrier, little privacy and stigmatization of behavioral health within small tight-knit communities further deters residents from seeking care.
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53	53	The legislature further finds that the county of Hawaii is facing a severe behavioral health crisis. Between 2018 and 2022, the department of health's behavioral health services administration reported 3,517 discharges related to mental health disorders and 7,416 discharges related to substance abuse. These statistics represent only those individuals who sought care. Estimates for the number of individuals in the county suffering from behavioral health issues are nearly double those reported.
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55	55	The legislature further finds that rural health clinics serve an essential role in underserved communities, including Kaū. Rural health clinics address the dearth of physicians serving medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, increasing availability of and access to medically necessary face-to-face primary health services performed by rural health clinic practitioners, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, clinical psychologists, and social workers.
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57	57	The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii health systems corporation to partner with a nonprofit organization in the Kaū district in the county of Hawaii to conduct a needs assessment to determine the demand for and access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services in Kaū.
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59	59	SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii health systems corporation shall partner with a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve access to quality health care in rural communities in the Kaū district in the county of Hawaii, such as the Kaū Rural Health Community Association, Inc., to conduct a needs assessment to determine the demand for and access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services in Kaū.
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61	61	(b) The Hawaii health systems corporation 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.
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63	63	SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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67	67	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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69	69	INTRODUCED BY:
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93	93	Report Title: Behavioral Health; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Hawaii County; Kau District; Needs Assessment; Report Description: Requires the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to partner with a nonprofit organization in the Kau District in the County of Hawaii to conduct a needs assessment to determine the demand for and access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services in Kau. Requires a report to the Legislature. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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99	99	Report Title:
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101	101	Behavioral Health; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Hawaii County; Kau District; Needs Assessment; Report
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105	105	Description:
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107	107	Requires the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to partner with a nonprofit organization in the Kau District in the County of Hawaii to conduct a needs assessment to determine the demand for and access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services in Kau. Requires a report to the Legislature.
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115	115	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.