Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SR37

Introduced
3/10/22  
Refer
3/11/22  
Report Pass
3/30/22  

Caption

Urging The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation To Expand The Kau Rural Health Clinic To Improve Access To Urgent Care And Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.

Impact

By focusing on expanding the Kau Rural Health Clinic, SR37 seeks to enhance the availability of urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services for residents of Kau, an area noted for its isolation and limited access to healthcare. The resolution acknowledges the crucial role such clinics play in addressing the shortage of physicians serving populations reliant on Medicare and Medicaid, enhancing overall healthcare accessibility for these individuals.

Summary

Senate Resolution 37 aims to address the urgent need for improved access to healthcare services in rural areas of Hawaii, specifically by urging the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to expand the Kau Rural Health Clinic. The resolution highlights significant health vulnerabilities among individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions, particularly in the wake of social isolation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes that rural health clinics are critical in providing medical and behavioral health services to underserved communities, thus fostering better health outcomes.

Contention

There may be debate surrounding the potential funding and logistical challenges associated with expanding the Kau Rural Health Clinic. While proponents argue that expanding this facility is essential for addressing mental health needs and reducing healthcare disparities in rural areas, there could be concerns regarding resource allocation, the capacity of existing healthcare providers, and the feasibility of implementing the expansion effectively. This could lead to discussions about healthcare priorities in the state legislature, balancing urgent care expansion with broader systemic healthcare reform.

Companion Bills

HI SCR42

Same As Urging The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation To Expand The Kau Rural Health Clinic To Improve Access To Urgent Care And Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.

Previously Filed As

HI SB754

Relating To Behavioral Health.

HI SB1472

Relating To Behavioral Health Services.

HI SB2837

Relating To The Oahu Regional Health Care System, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

HI SR7

Requesting The Department Of Health's State Health Planning And Development Agency To Convene A Health Data Sharing Working Group To Accelerate And Expand The Sharing Of Real Time Health Information Among Health Care Entities And Government Agencies In The State.

HI HB2294

Relating To The Oahu Regional Health Care System, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

HI SR69

Urging The Office Of Enterprise Technology Services To Improve The State Of Hawaii's Open Data Portal By Increasing And Expanding The Data Sets Available On The Open Data Portal, Centralizing All Open Data Sets Of All State Departments Onto The Open Data Portal, And Continually Updating The Data Sets For Accuracy And Recency Of Publicly Accessible Data.

HI SB1215

Relating To Healthcare Preceptors.

HI SB1419

Relating To The Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership.

HI SB853

Relating To The Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership.

HI SCR15

Requesting The Department Of Health's State Health Planning And Development Agency To Convene A Health Data Sharing Working Group To Accelerate And Expand The Sharing Of Real Time Health Information Among Health Care Entities And Government Agencies In The State.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.