President's Message

Firstly, the state legislature has adjourned (please see the two page summary insert for the final status of the HAH legislative package). Overall it was a good session, but there is much work to accomplish if we want a sustainable system for the delivery of health care in Hawaii.

As most of you know the State struggled with massive budget deficits this session, and the legislature and the administration were in a cutting mode. As a result, most of the bills that required new or increased expenditures of state funds were either not heard at all or died during the committee process.

However, the Medicaid emergency appropriation bill that will reduce the magnitude of delays in State payments to Medicaid health plans (SB 1178) was passed by the Legislature and has already been signed by the Governor. That bill was the product of HAH working with other provider organizations and Medicaid health plans.

In addition, the DSH appropriation bill (HB 2084) was passed, although not in its original form, appropriating funds from FY 2010-11. In its final form the bill amends last year's DSH appropriation (which was not released) and extends the lapsing date of the appropriation to June 30, 2011.

The Legislature also adopted HCR 237, which requests Hawaii's Economic Stimulus Oversight Commission to assume additional functions. The resolution asks the commission to determine how much in federal stimulus funding that Hawaii qualifies for, what Hawaii has applied for, how much has been drawn down, the distribution of those funds, and the uses of the expended funds compared with their intended uses.

Unfortunately, both of HAH's waitlist bills "died." However, we used these vehicles to continue to educate legislators about this important issue. HAH's guardianship and medical malpractice resolutions also met the same fate.

We look forward to this fall's Advocacy Day where we will work with the membership to develop next year's agenda.

At the federal level, we are living in a new world with the passage of the health reform bill. What we know is that there will be more accountability, more connectivity between health care disciplines and less government funding over time as the goal of more coverage is achieved nationally.

So what will that mean for Hawaii's Prepaid Healthcare Act? I know it is early in the column, but "stay tuned" is my advice. There are many pieces yet to fall in place around the reform bill, and as it is implemented over the next several years there will be legislative, regulatory, and possibly legal changes to the law.

One thing I do know is that our Congressional Delegation should be thanked for securing language that is intended to protect the Prepaid Healthcare Act and that reinstates traditional payments to our hospitals that serve large numbers of the Medicaid population and the uninsured.

It should be noted that HAH is attempting to identify ways to model the impact of health reform on reimbursement to our individual members. We hope to have a product available for as much of the membership as possible in July.

Here at HAH we are in the middle of a summer of change. We have begun a strategic planning process, and we are interviewing members, community leaders and key decision makers as we shape the future of our organization.

Through this endeavor we will conduct an environmental assessment of the health care, business, political and consumer environments which we work in and utilize this information to develop a mission, vision, and plan that positions the Association to play a lead role in developing a sustainable plan for the delivery of care in Hawaii.

We are also redeveloping our website. Our goal is to provide members and the public with more up-to-date information, more interaction with the Association and other users, and more opportunities to learn about health care and take part in grassroots activities.

Finally I'd like to mention our first annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner, which was a resounding success. Held at the Hale Koa Hotel on May 21, we had over 350 guests and celebrated the work of numerous individuals who go above and beyond every day in providing care to the patients and communities they serve.

The event's success was due in large part to our members who donated their time and auction items, and our sponsors and guests who supported the event financially. We are very hopeful that this will become an event that the entire health care community looks forward to each and every year. With that, it is back to work...keep your eyes peeled, ears open...and stay tuned.

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