In The News

Reneging on funds will have impact on needy

June 10, 2008

Honolulu Advertiser

I am writing in response to the June 9 article by Curtis Lum, “Isle doctors, hospitals press Lingle for cash.”

Act 284 was passed last year to correct a grossly inadequate physician reimbursement system. With money promised and allocated, physicians were able to continue treating the state’s most vulnerable citizens despite the physicians’ own economic situation.

Department of Human Services Director Lillian Koller now says that the state’s budget woes have put Act 284 funds in question.

Since Act 284 was passed by the Legislature last year, physicians across Hawai’i have been providing medical care in advance of payment and in good faith, assuming they would receive reimbursement by our governor. Our doctors relied on payment, as prescribed by law.

To renege on a commitment by the state in reimbursing the physicians for services already provided will undoubtedly have a huge impact on our state’s neediest citizens.

It is disheartening now at the 11th hour that the governor is going to allow the first half of the funding of $16 million, of which $8 million is for 2007, to lapse. This will cause the loss of additional federal funding.

If the governor decides not to release all the appropriated funds, our community should worry about every poor, elderly and disabled citizen’s access to quality healthcare in Hawai’i.

Rev. Bob Nakata
President, Faith Action for Community Equity

Go to original Letter to the Editor (5th from top).