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Governor Targets 12 Health Bills for Veto

The 2009 Legislative session was very productive, especially in light of the economic challenges facing the State. The Hawaii State legislature made a statement this year that access to quality healthcare for our community is one of the most important priorities.

Unfortunately, Governor Linda Lingle (R), has identified a dozen bills passed by the legislature this session as targets for her Veto. The bills are: HB 343, HB 690, HB 1379, HB 1504, HB 1538, SB 43, SB 415, SB 420, SB 777, SB 1673, HB 989, and SB 423.

Previous Governors would call to discuss issues of concern with bills passed by the Legislature before they would make a decision on vetoing it. We no longer have that opportunity.

Click to see descriptions of the bills

I would appreciate any feedback on the Governor's Notice of Intenet to Veto the following bills:

HB 343 RELATING TO RURAL PRIMARY HEALTHCARE TRAINING
Appropriates funds to develop a statewide rural primary health care training program and support the family medicine residency program of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

HB 690 RELATING TO INSURANCE
Requires insurers that offer health care coverage to the regular employees of any group or association to offer the same coverage to part-time employees working a certain amount of hours per week and for a minimum length of time. Requires the insurance commissioner to submit a cost-benefit report to the legislature.

HB 1379 RELATING TO PHYSICIAN ORDERS FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENT
Creates a process for a patient to direct end-of-life treatment in a standardized physician orders for life-sustaining form.

HB 1504 RELATING TO HEALTH
Creates the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a comprehensive plan to provide universal health care in Hawaii.

HB 1538 RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE PRODUCTS
Requires the department of education to give first preference to Green Seal approved environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in public schools; requires the department of health to maintain a list of Green Seal program approved products.

SB 43 RELATING TO PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT
To implement a statewide physician assessment and planning program funded by $60 fee assessed at license renewal.

SB 415 RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES
Requires the department of health to license home care agencies. Sunsets 6/30/2014.

SB 420 RELATING TO NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Comprehensive update of laws on Naturopathic medicine to reflect current training and practice.

SB 777 RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY HEALTH EDUCATION
Requires any recipient of state funding specifically for sexuality health education programs to provide comprehensive medically accurate sexuality education.

SB 1673 RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION (HHSC)
Comprehensive restructuring of the HHSC to allow transition to new forms of public-private partnerships, negotiation of new work rules and other union contract provisions, change in the corporate board to give each region more control, and other changes.

HB 989 RELATING TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE
Amends the Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, which established the Hawaii children's health care program, to extend the program to June 30, 2012, and require reporting to the Legislature prior to the 2010 and 2011 Regular Sessions. Appropriates $200,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2009-2011.

SB 423 RELATING TO HEALTH
Appropriates money to match federal funds for medicaid disproportionate share hospital allowance.

Posted on July 7, 2009 9:33 AM | Permalink