Leaders of advisory boards for a health cooperation that runs rural hospitals in Hawai’i have thrown their support behind legislation for a $38 million general obligation bond for repairs at Maui Medical Center. Leaders of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
Leaders of advisory boards for a health cooperation that runs rural hospitals in Hawai’i have thrown their support behind legislation for a $38 million general obligation bond for repairs at Maui Medical Center.
Leaders of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Regional Management Committees said the repairs will help the rural hospital meet increased patient demands and, help other hospitals continue to provide quality medical services.
The most profitable of HHSC hospitals, the Maui hospital posted profits for the last four years.
Kaua’i Veterans Memorial Hospital and Samuel Mahelona Hospital would be among the hospitals that stand to benefit from the approval of the bond.
“It is our priority right now. We are just crossing our fingers,” Jean Odo, chairperson of the Kaua’i Regional Management Advisory Committee, said of the bond.
The proposal includes another $16 million for medical services HHSC is mandated by the Legislature to provide. As part of a biennium budget, HHSC received $2 million for this current fiscal year.
Another Senate bill proposes $5 million to cover a loan from Governor Ben Cayetano to cover HHSC payroll increases related to the biennium budget, according to Miles H. Takaaze, communication and public affairs director for HHSC. If approved the money, which relates to the efficient operation of HHSC, will be returned to the state general fund, Takaaze said.
Also under consideration by the Legislature is a proposal for a $20 million general obligation bond for long-term care facilities at the Hilo Medical Center on the Big Island, Odo said.
The bonds totaling $58 million are perhaps the largest remaining pieces of recent legislation state lawmakers had proposed to dismantle the HHSC system.
Lawmakers cited concerns about the financial state of the 12 hospital under HHSC and employee bonuses.
In place of HHSC, that legislation also proposed management boards for each island at a cost of $49 million.
The legislation failed partly because legislators were concerned about finding the funding to carry out that option, Takaaze said.
HHSC was established in 1996 as a public benefit corporation of the state to cut heavy losses incurred by the hospitals under the state Department of Health.
HHSC serves communities private hospitals cannot or are unwilling to serve.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
