Bill Text: HI HR127 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Task force; Physician shortage

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-04-09 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR127 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-HR127-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	127
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE IN HAWAII.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the United States is experiencing a shortage of physicians and forecasts by the American Association of Medical Colleges indicate that the United States is projected to experience a shortage of approximately 160,000 physicians by 2025; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is not immune to this fact; studies of the physician workforce in Hawaii demonstrate extreme shortages of primary care specialties, most notably in rural areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, the rising demand on the health care system in Hawaii due to population growth, aging, and the prevalence of chronic disease call for an increase in the existing physician base; and

 

     WHEREAS, health care systems across the country rely on  foreign medical school graduates to help meet physician hiring needs in primary care, especially in the three practice specialties that are in high demand -- internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatric medicine; and

 

     WHEREAS, although foreign medical school graduates are in high demand, they must go through demanding Hawaii training and licensing requirements including completing accredited internship and residency training programs in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the process to become licensed and practice in Hawaii is too difficult or too costly for many foreign medical school graduates, resulting in the graduates accepting other jobs in the health care industry such as nursing positions or accepting entry-level service jobs; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the Director of Health is requested to create a task force to address the physician shortage in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consider and make recommendations regarding: 

 

     (1)  The ongoing assessment and planning of the physician workforce in Hawaii;

 

     (2)  The recruitment and retention of physicians, especially for the physician workforce serving rural and medically underserved areas of the State;  

 

     (3)  The training and licensing requirements that may preclude a foreign medical school graduate from practicing in Hawaii; and

 

     (4)  The opportunities for foreign medical school graduates to be accepted into internship and residency training programs in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health is requested to invite the following parties to serve as members of the task force:

 

     (1)  A representative from the Department of Health;

 

     (2)  A representative from the John A. Burns School of Medicine;

 

     (3)  A representative from the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii;

 

     (4)  A representative from the Hawaii Medical Association;

 

     (5)  A representative from the Comprehensive Health Centers in Hawaii;

 

     (6)  A representative from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; and

 

     (7)  Any other individual that the Director of Health deems appropriate; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their official duties; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2016 Regular Session; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Dean of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School Of Medicine, President of the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii, Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, President of the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Medical Directors of the various Comprehensive Health Centers in Hawaii.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Task force; Physician shortage