HI HCR122

Urges the Director of Health to convene a task force to assess the scope and feasibility of establishing an emergency services patient advocate program to assist patients receiving emergency medical care.

Task force membership includes the Director of Health (as chair), four Healthcare Association of Hawaii representatives (one from each county), four Subarea Health Planning Council representatives, three community-patient members, and representatives from emergency medicine and EMS organizations.

Task force shall examine current and best practices in emergency services patient advocacy, and make recommendations on whether a statewide program is necessary and cost-effective.

Task force members are exempted from Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 84 (ethics and conflicts of interest) solely due to their participation on the task force.

Task force must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2015, and is terminated on June 30, 2015.