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--- •c4IOFilw, Roy Takemoto <br /> •c°'' - 7• Managing Director <br /> Harry Kim •.ii• ‘'-.S ;.• <br /> • <br /> 1lagor "�R' <br /> °� — -?. ` i Barbara J. Kossow <br /> 44 o_1.0.' Deputy Managing Director <br /> County of Hawaii <br /> Office of the Mayor <br /> 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> February 10, 2020 <br /> Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Chair <br /> Senator Michelle N. Kidani, Vice Chair <br /> Committee on Higher Education <br /> Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair <br /> Senator Stanley Chang, Vice Chair <br /> Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health <br /> Dear Chairs Mercado and Baker, Vice Chairs Kidani and Chang, and Committee Members: <br /> RE: SB 2472 Relating to Tuition Waivers for Physicians in Rural Areas <br /> Our healthcare crisis is real and becomes more acute year by year. There are not <br /> enough providers to care for our current population, and our population is both growing and <br /> growing older. Downtown Honolulu is about the only area of the State where there are enough <br /> providers to meet the need. <br /> This legislature has recognized the problem and I applaud you for the attention you are <br /> giving to solving it. <br /> I think it is fair to say that there is not one single initiative that will turn things around, so <br /> multiple approaches are called for. It would seem that SB 2472 would be one positive way of <br /> incentivizing students to practice medicine in rural Oahu or on the neighbor islands after <br /> graduation. However, I have no idea what the cost would be and whether it would be the best <br /> use of our limited funds, so I defer to the experts on that score. <br /> I do know that we are looking to this Legislature for multiple bold initiatives, without <br /> which our quality of life will be under even more severe stress. I hope you will keep SB 2472 <br /> alive, along with other proposals that deal with the provider shortage, for further discussion and <br /> action. <br /> Thank you for your consideration. <br /> Rs ectfully Submitted, <br /> / ...A. v,..„. <br /> Harry Kim <br /> MAYOR <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />