Bill > SR37

This Resolution urges the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to expand the Kau Rural Health Clinic to improve access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services, recognizing the increased vulnerability of individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions, the negative mental health impacts of social isolation exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the crucial role rural health clinics play in serving Medicare beneficiaries and increasing the availability of primary and preventative health services in underserved areas. The resolution specifically highlights that rural health clinics, which can be staffed by various qualified practitioners including physicians, nurse practitioners, and social workers, are essential for communities like Kau on Hawaii island, and it acknowledges that residents in tight-knit rural areas may be hesitant to seek mental health services due to fear of stigma, thus emphasizing the need for greater accessibility to these services for Medicaid patients.