Hawaii Primary Care Association sets public policy agenda

The 2008 session of the Legislature is the second year of the biennium, a time when few new initiatives are typically introduced. The Hawaii Primary Care Association is spporting two new items, which it describes as fundamental to the financial sustainability of community health centers across the state:

• Increasing funding for the uninsured – Comunity health centers are requesting $2 million be added to the $3.5 million in the Department of Health Budget for uninsured services. This appropriation was included as an add-on in 2004 to 2006 but inadvertently left out of the fiscal year 2007 budget. The additional funds are for medical and dental services, behavioral-health visits and prescription drugs for up to 5,000 more uninsured. 
• Fixing key rules for the administration of the Med-QUEST Prospective Payment System – The community health centers seek statutory language to address important elements in the Med-QUEST payment system to ensure timely payment and to adopt a clear process for adding or changing services.

Click here for more information about the Community Health Centers public policy agenda.