HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0852.005 2018-2020 s
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COUNTY CLERK
TESTIMONEY IN SUPPORT OF COUNTY of HAWAIII
COUNTY OF HAWAII RESOLUTION 565-20RECEIVED
Time 3 OenBy
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From: Richard J. Taaffe, CEO Date e,
West Hawaii Community Health Center, Kailua Kona, HI
Re: COUNTY OF HAWAII RESOLUTION 565-20
I am pleased to submit this testimony in strong support of Resolution 565-20 related to
ensuring Hawaii Island residents have access to all Medicaid health plans.
On January 22, 2020, the Hawaii Department of Human Services' (DHS) announced that starting
July 1, 2020 it would award contracts to only two Medicaid health plans serving QUEST
Integration (QI) beneficiaries who live on Hawaii Island. Currently, there are four health plans
serving Hawaii Island residents. Although DNS has delayed the awarding of these contracts due
to the current pandemic, there has been no indication they have rescinded their decision.
If this decision is allowed to stand there will be a significant impact upon our residents and on
our communities. There will a disruption in continuity of care for both patients and medical
providers. At least 40%of our Medicaid beneficiaries will be reassigned to another health plan
forcing them to navigate the labyrinth of paperwork, policies, and practices of a new health
plan. Additionally, the continuity of care for these individuals, some of our most vulnerable
residents, will be disrupted.
Furthermore, this decision will limit patient choice at a time when Hawaii Island already suffers
from a shortage of primary care and specialty medical providers. By limiting Medicaid patients
to two choices—HMSA and United Health Care— many patients will have limited provider
choices. It should be noted that many private health providers do not ACCEPT United Health
Care (UHC) patients because of UHC's business practices toward patients and providers. It
should also be noted that United Health Care is a for-profit health plan with no roots in Hawaii
and it manages dozen lines of business throughout the mainland, making Hawaii's Medicaid
market very minor to them.
Bottomline, this decision by DHS to limited choices will discourage neighbor island health care
providers from participating in the Medicaid market. It will force will patients to navigate a
complex system of limited care options causing massive disruption to their lives and health,
including keiki through kupuna, blind, aged and disabled, whose complex health care needs
make them vulnerable when care is disrupted. The unintended consequence will be more
people without a PCP, more emergency room visits, limited specialty care on the neighbor
islands, people delaying care, increased cost to the overall health care system, and ultimately a
reduction in the health of our most vulnerable patients.
I urge the Hawaii County Council to adopt Resolution No. 565-20.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify. 'j
Comm. No. t
Ref. To:
Ref. Date APR 20Z0