Bill to split Maui County from HHSC being floated

The Maui News
Friday, January 26, 2007

By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writer

WAILUKU – Maui's lawmakers announced Thursday the introduction of legislation aimed at giving "more local control" to Maui Memorial Medical Center as well as Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital.

Senate Bill 1792, introduced by state Sens. Shan Tsutsui, J. Kalani English and Roz Baker, and House Bill 1704, sponsored by state Rep. Bob Nakasone, outline a regional structure for the Maui facilities, placing financial, operational and decision-making authority with its own board of directors.

The word autonomy does not appear in the legislation, but lawmakers like Nakasone have discussed previously their interests in at least giving Maui Memorial semiautonomous status so that it can make health care improvements to its facility and services.

Currently, the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. manages and operates 12 community hospitals throughout the state, including Maui Memorial, which generally has covered its own costs.

Kula, Lanai and all other state medical centers do not cover their on costs, relying on the state to provide financial support.

Public Affairs Director Miles Takaaze said the HHSC board reviewed the legislative proposal Thursday during its bimonthly meeting.

"At this point the mission of the board is to determine the impact of the legislation as expeditiously as possible," Takaaze said Thursday. The HHSC plans to consult with the advisory committees currently set up for the Maui region facilities in making a determination about its stance on the bills.

"The Maui community has strongly demonstrated that they are interested in having a say in health care development," Tsutsui said in Thursday's announcement of the new legislation. "This bill will allow them to do that, while allowing HHSC to focus on systemwide issues of health care."

Maui Memorial Chief Executive Officer Wesley Lo issued a written statement on behalf of the hospital's senior executive team.

"We understand that our support of the legislative bill may be inconsistent with the direction of others in our organization, but considering the gravity of the situation, we, in all good conscience, must stand firm in our commitment regarding of the potential consequences of our actions."

Lo explained it has become apparent to him and his team "that the health care system in Hawaii and the nation is, in part broken, and accordingly, bold new initiatives and 'out of the box' thinking is required."

The legislation announced Thursday was derived through a collaborative effort by the Maui Management Advisory Committee, a community advocacy group to the Maui Region, made up of members of the public as well as physicians and leaders at Maui Memorial.

"We believe that Maui needs a health care master plan that is good for our entire community," Maui Management Advisory Committee member Tony Takitani said. "With this regional structure, all segments of our community will be a part of this process. The bottom line, and desired end result, is improved patient care."

The legislation proposes a new organizational structure that includes a regional board of community members to govern Maui Memorial, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital.

"Health care planning and implementation will be done on Maui by people who have the best interests of the Maui community in mind, and a sensitivity to the issues that impact them in particular," Tsutsui explained.

If the bill were approved as law, it would go into effect on July 1.

Over the years, Maui Memorial has been criticized for its inability to move quickly on much-needed improvements to its facilities and services. The criticism was more pronounced this past year during public hearings and meetings involving the application of the proposed Malulani Health and Medical Center, which was rejected by the State Health Planning and Development Agency.

On Monday, a review panel turned down a request from Malulani to reconsider the rejection.

During that session, SHPDA Administrator Dr. David Sakamoto asked Lo whether Maui Memorial would support a private-public venture in building a new full-service hospital for Maui.

Lo said Maui Memorial was not willing to let go of its profit-making ability, but he as chief executive officer would be willing to look at new facility proposals.

Dr. Ron Kwon of Malulani Health Services Inc. says he and his financial partners would be "ready, willing and able" to build a new hospital with as many as 350 beds while supporting converting Maui Memorial into a long-term care facility.

Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=27108

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