Bill > SR176

This Resolution formally requests the Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study to understand the healthcare needs of the residents in Ocean View, a rapidly growing community on the island of Hawaii. The study is crucial because Ocean View currently lacks any healthcare facilities, and the nearest hospitals are a significant distance away, creating accessibility issues for its expanding population. The Department of Health is specifically asked to identify the community's health needs, assess existing healthcare resources, pinpoint any unmet or inadequately served needs and their causes, analyze disease patterns, determine the number of residents who are beneficiaries of the Compact of Free Association (an agreement between the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States), and provide prioritized recommendations for addressing these gaps. The resolution also clarifies that "health care needs" encompasses a broad range of services, including education, prevention, treatment, and end-of-life care, and requires the Department of Health to submit a report of its findings to the Legislature by a specific date before the 2023 legislative session.