HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-10 Letter to Donna Mercado Kim, Michelle N. Kidani, Rosalyn H. Baker and Stanley Chang SB 2472 Relating to Tuition Waivers for Physicians in Rural Areas --- •c4IOFilw, Roy Takemoto
•c°'' - 7• Managing Director
Harry Kim •.ii• ‘'-.S ;.•
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County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
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February 10, 2020
Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Chair
Senator Michelle N. Kidani, Vice Chair
Committee on Higher Education
Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair
Senator Stanley Chang, Vice Chair
Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health
Dear Chairs Mercado and Baker, Vice Chairs Kidani and Chang, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 2472 Relating to Tuition Waivers for Physicians in Rural Areas
Our healthcare crisis is real and becomes more acute year by year. There are not
enough providers to care for our current population, and our population is both growing and
growing older. Downtown Honolulu is about the only area of the State where there are enough
providers to meet the need.
This legislature has recognized the problem and I applaud you for the attention you are
giving to solving it.
I think it is fair to say that there is not one single initiative that will turn things around, so
multiple approaches are called for. It would seem that SB 2472 would be one positive way of
incentivizing students to practice medicine in rural Oahu or on the neighbor islands after
graduation. However, I have no idea what the cost would be and whether it would be the best
use of our limited funds, so I defer to the experts on that score.
I do know that we are looking to this Legislature for multiple bold initiatives, without
which our quality of life will be under even more severe stress. I hope you will keep SB 2472
alive, along with other proposals that deal with the provider shortage, for further discussion and
action.
Thank you for your consideration.
Rs ectfully Submitted,
/ ...A. v,..„.
Harry Kim
MAYOR
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.