The lone Kaua’i meeting for public input on the proposed merger of Wilcox Health System with Kapi’olani Health and Straub Clinic and Hospital has been set for Aug. 14. Beginning at 10 a.m. at Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall in
The lone Kaua’i meeting for public input on the proposed merger of Wilcox Health System with Kapi’olani Health and Straub Clinic and Hospital has been set for Aug. 14.
Beginning at 10 a.m. at Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu’e, the Kaua’i Sub-area Health Planning Council will consider the application for merging the two Oahu-based healthcare organizations with the local Wilcox (Wilcox Memorial Hospital and Kaua’i Medical Clinic).
That means the State Health Planning and Development Agency has officially accepted two separate certificate of need applications: One for merging Kapi’olani with Straub, the other for merging Kapi’olani with Wilcox.
Public input, according to the state agency’s rules, must be relevant to:
– The applications as they apply to the state health services and facilities plan.
– Need and accessibility.
– Quality of care and service.
– Cost and finances.
– Relationship to the existing healthcare system and availability of resources.
The Kaua’i Sub-area Health Planning Council, a volunteer citizen committee with members appointed by the governor, will hear a state staff report, a presentation by the applicant, and public comments at the Lihu’e meeting.
Then the members will vote to recommend approval, disapproval or conditional approval of the merger applications. The recommendation becomes part of the agency administrator’s review before she makes a decision on the application, officials said.
Marilyn A. Matsunaga is the State Health Planning and Development Agency administrator.
Sub-area council members represent consumers, healthcare providers, businesses, unions and other professions.
Before the Kaua’i meeting, the O’ahuwide Certificate Review Committee will examine the application to merge Kapi’olani with Straub on Aug. 7 in Honolulu.
More review of both applications is scheduled by the Certificate of Need Review Panel for Aug. 23, also in Honolulu.
The Statewide Health Coordinating Council, with members appointed by the governor, could make a final decision on the applications at its meeting Aug. 30 in Honolulu. The SHCC is an advisory body to the state agency.
The Certificate of Need Review Panel is a standing committee of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council. The panel makes in-depth technical reviews of applications and submits its recommendations to the council.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
