Monday, November 23, 2009
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Legislators need to address Big Island doctor shortage
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 08, 2008
THE ISSUEIncreasing numbers of physicians are departing from the Big Island because of high insurance costs and too little reimbursement.
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The nation's economic crisis is about to collide with a health crisis on the Big Island, challenging state legislators to deal with the wreckage. Doctors departing neighbor islands blame the cost of medical malpractice insurance and inadequate reimbursement from the state's largest health insurer. Those problems should be addressed in the Legislature's upcoming session.
Three orthopedic surgeons recently said they will leave their practices on the Big Island for the mainland by the end of January, leaving the island with only one full-time bone surgeon and one part-timer, according to Insurance Journal, a trade publication. They cite steep malpractice insurance premiums and unsatisfactory reimbursement by Hawaii Medical Services Association, combined with large workloads and the high cost of living.
Legislators this year enacted a bill sponsored by Rep. Josh Green, a Big Island physician, to create a Hawaii Health Corps Program to address physician shortages in rural areas. However, the bill was trimmed to create only a task force to draft a program that is not scheduled for implementation until 2010.
Doctors are reimbursed by HMSA through the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. from payments by Medicare, insurance companies, patients and state tax dollars. Hawaii Health Systems is expected to run at a $62 million loss in the current fiscal year.
House Finance Chairman Marcus Oshiro asked Gov. Linda Lingle in June to "stop the bleeding" by shifting surplus money from the Department of Health and Human Services to the system. Lingle said the law prevented her from doing so, and that was before the state's projection of a severe budget shortfall.
Unable in past years to gain enactment of limits on non-economic damage awards in malpractice lawsuits, proponents confined the proposal in this year's Legislature to neighbor islands, but that also failed. Plaintiffs' attorneys have ignored Hawaii's current $375,000 on awards for physical pain and suffering, instead winning large amounts as compensation for mental anguish, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.
Proponents in Hawaii and in Congress point to California's lowering of malpractice award caps of non-economic damage as model legislation. Opponents maintain that tighter insurance regulation rather than malpractice award caps have been responsible for California's relatively low malpractice premiums.
House Judiciary Committee Tommy Waters, a Honolulu lawyer, mocked proponents of non-economic damage caps in the last session in sarcastically asking for a moment of silence on the House floor for the death of tort reform. Green, who is now running for a Senate seat, has led the support for the legislation. Legislators on both sides of the issue should try to reach common ground.
THE ISSUEIncreasing numbers of physicians are departing from the Big Island because of high insurance costs and too little reimbursement. |
The nation's economic crisis is about to collide with a health crisis on the Big Island, challenging state legislators to deal with the wreckage. Doctors departing neighbor islands blame the cost of medical malpractice insurance and inadequate reimbursement from the state's largest health insurer. Those problems should be addressed in the Legislature's upcoming session.
Three orthopedic surgeons recently said they will leave their practices on the Big Island for the mainland by the end of January, leaving the island with only one full-time bone surgeon and one part-timer, according to Insurance Journal, a trade publication. They cite steep malpractice insurance premiums and unsatisfactory reimbursement by Hawaii Medical Services Association, combined with large workloads and the high cost of living.
Legislators this year enacted a bill sponsored by Rep. Josh Green, a Big Island physician, to create a Hawaii Health Corps Program to address physician shortages in rural areas. However, the bill was trimmed to create only a task force to draft a program that is not scheduled for implementation until 2010.
Doctors are reimbursed by HMSA through the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. from payments by Medicare, insurance companies, patients and state tax dollars. Hawaii Health Systems is expected to run at a $62 million loss in the current fiscal year.
House Finance Chairman Marcus Oshiro asked Gov. Linda Lingle in June to "stop the bleeding" by shifting surplus money from the Department of Health and Human Services to the system. Lingle said the law prevented her from doing so, and that was before the state's projection of a severe budget shortfall.
Unable in past years to gain enactment of limits on non-economic damage awards in malpractice lawsuits, proponents confined the proposal in this year's Legislature to neighbor islands, but that also failed. Plaintiffs' attorneys have ignored Hawaii's current $375,000 on awards for physical pain and suffering, instead winning large amounts as compensation for mental anguish, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.
Proponents in Hawaii and in Congress point to California's lowering of malpractice award caps of non-economic damage as model legislation. Opponents maintain that tighter insurance regulation rather than malpractice award caps have been responsible for California's relatively low malpractice premiums.
House Judiciary Committee Tommy Waters, a Honolulu lawyer, mocked proponents of non-economic damage caps in the last session in sarcastically asking for a moment of silence on the House floor for the death of tort reform. Green, who is now running for a Senate seat, has led the support for the legislation. Legislators on both sides of the issue should try to reach common ground.
Today’s Edition
- Troubled bridges over island waters
- Man shot in police encounter
- 70 U.S. Army reservists receive warrior citizen awards
- Family raises $66,000 for son's liver surgery
- Ocean Watch: A love of fish catches new friends, families
- Island Images
- Newswatch
- Police and Fire
- Trader with a taste for risk fishes for tuna from a kayak
- Deal will turn a hospital private, with goal of efficiency
- Readers asked to share holiday horrors
- Easing holiday stress
- It's About Time: An annual reality check can help you reorganize
- Da Kine
- Pet Ohana
- Got nutrients?
- Wahine dominate All-WAC honors
- Hawaii starts defense of its WAC tourney title tomorrow
- Crucial homestand for chance at bowl
- Five big plays from Hawaii's 17-10 victory
- Further Review: Streak means nothing with 8-3 Navy heading in
- Garcia advances at Reef Hawaiian Pro
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- Television & Radio
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