HI HCR95

Request Hawaii Health Systems Corporation regional boards for Oahu, East Hawaii, West Hawaii, and Kauai to assess how public hospitals address long-term care placement needs and mitigate acute care hospital waitlists.

Require regional boards to develop recommendations regarding the effect of long-term care bed availability on acute care bed wait times in their respective geographic areas.

Direct regional boards to submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session convenes.

Acknowledge that long-term care bed shortages force patients to occupy acute care beds, reducing hospital capacity to treat new patients and affecting hospital revenue due to low long-term care reimbursement rates.

Note that Leahi Hospital and Maluhia Long-Term Care Health Center in Oahu operated at significant losses ($9.1 million and $7.4 million respectively in fiscal year 2016-2017) and have reduced staff and halted admissions to address deficits.