HI SCR82

Hawaii faces a physician shortage of 513 full-time equivalent positions as of October 2018, with an adjusted unmet need estimated at 797 positions when accounting for island geography and specialty-specific needs by county

County of Hawaii has a large medically underserved rural population and one of the fastest-growing residential populations in the state, plus welcomes numerous domestic and international visitors annually

The Legislature appropriated $500,000 in 2016 for a feasibility study of a teaching hospital in Kona, but the funds lapsed before the study was initiated

Encourages the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, to study the impact and feasibility of creating a teaching hospital in west Hawaii

Requests submission of findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2020 Regular Session