May 5, 2015

TO: Senator Gil Keith-Agaran

FROM: Mary Ann Barnes, Hawaii Regional President, Kaiser Permanente

RE: Maui Memorial Medical Center

Due to the passage of recent legislation, Kaiser Permanente is preparing to submit a letter of interest to participate in the process for the selection of a partner for Maui Memorial Medical Center. We are taking this action because Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is committed to providing excellent care to the people of Maui and we believe that preserving a fiscally sound, high-quality community hospital network on the island is essential to the future of the Valley Isle. We remain firmly anchored to our roots on Maui, with more than 40 percent of the island's residents now entrusting us with their care. We view our long established presence on the island, coupled with our dedication to exceptional patient-centered medicine, as key factors in ensuring a robust partnership that creates a meaningful and positive impact on the health of the entire community.

In pursuing such a partnership, Kaiser Permanente is committed to keeping Maui Memorial Medical Center open to the entire Maui community, serving all patients, not just Kaiser Permanente members. This includes accepting a variety of health insurance plans. We are committed to continuing to work with community physicians who already practice at the hospital alongside Kaiser Permanente physicians, and we are intent on working with government leaders and labor representatives to ensure the long-term sustainability of the hospital, while continuing to provide community outreach and charitable care services.

Kaiser Permanente has more than 52,000 members on the island. In addition to the work we already do at Maui Memorial Medical Center, we provide health care services at six Maui locations (Kihei, Lahaina, Maui Lani, Maui Lani Elua, Wailuku, and Behavioral Health Services at Wells Street), including primary and specialty care services, home health, out-patient dialysis, physical therapy, and sports medicine. Following a recent agreement with Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente physicians will also be providing the majority of pediatric inpatient care at the hospital beginning in June.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is privileged to have been a part of the local community for more than 55 years. As a non-profit charitable organization, Kaiser Permanente also is dedicated to serving the Maui community in ways beyond providing health care, contributing resources to education, community service programs and other community initiatives that improve the lives of Maui's families. We value our relationship with Maui Memorial Medical Center and want to see it thrive and continue to serve the Maui community for decades to come.

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