Health Care

...“Fat” is becoming the new normal in America....

...These rates are expected to affect approximately 34,000 individuals currently purchasing ACA individual plans....

...veterans in American Samoa must travel over 2,500 miles to receive care in Hawaii....

... “next nearest chambers on Guam and the mainland”....

“We want to make sure that people understand that we have a vision for the future.” -- Sen Brian Schatz

...The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration over federal restrictions that require a doctor's prescription to get an abortion pill....

... Hawaii moved up from 11th to 7th ....

...According to the Social Security Administration, one in five Americans lives with a disability, and one in 10 has a severe disability....

...Gallup says it's exercise, Bloomberg says it's labor unions....

...CMS data show that total costs for new Medicaid beneficiaries in Hawaii rose from $249.1 million in 2014 to $437.4 million in 2015-a 76 percent single-year increase. Costs per-enrollee jumped 73 percent in that same period, going from $7,462 in 2014 to $12,910 in 2015....

...Provides for an increased federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP) for both Alaska and Hawaii....

... Only five states had statistically significant increases in single coverage premiums 2015 to 2016 -- Hawaii is 5th ....

...Change in Uninsured Rate Between 2010 & 2016 -- -4.36%....

...foster greater competition among doctors, hospitals, drug companies and insurance companies, by simplifying the regulatory environment....

...the State can pay billions for Rail but it can't pay thousands for vaccinations....

...A copy of the decision, Rachel H. v. Department of Education, State of Hawaii, is attached....

...Medicare patients in Hawaii take fewer opioid painkillers and fewer antibiotics, on average, than those in any other state. Physicians and health policy experts cite demographics and healthier lifestyles as possible reasons why....

...Hawaii's adult obesity rate is currently 23.8 percent, up from 15.7 percent in 2000 and from 8.9 percent in 1990....

...Burned Out: Is Your State Full of Overworked Doctors and Nurses?....

...The senator also purports to somehow raise the payment rates that Medicaid doles out to hospital systems and physicians, but how he would do so remains unclear....

...2017’s Best & Worst States for Health Care....

...Hawaii has no soda tax. But that's not for lack of trying.....

...This year, the state confirmed a total of 15 cases of the serious parasitic infection, which is the highest number of cases reported in the state over the last decade....

...Unexpected update from FDA halts federal regulations and embraces e-cigarettes....

...the state-run Maui Memorial Hospital faced every problem a medical facility could. Dogged by consistently low professional accreditation ratings, it lacked specialists and had constant funding shortfalls. Patients regularly had to be airlifted to Honolulu, even for trauma care....

..."Well, mainly I get my news from watching you guys on TV" Hirono said....

...Presentation featuring Dr. Kyle Varner, former Hawaii physician....

...and Hawaii is among the lowest in the USA....

"It has been a long journey to bring us to this historic transition"

"What happened was a national disgrace, and yet some of the employees involved in these scandals remained on the payrolls." -- President Donald J Trump

States that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA) saw 2.5 emergency department visits more per 1,000 people after 2014....

...families continue to offer a strong foundation for Hawaiʻi’s children, according to the 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book....

...Transforming the Health of Native Hawaiian Men, a 45-page report on the well-being of Hawaiian kāne....

As case number 15 of rat lungworm disease came to light last month, my blood boils a bit because of what has happened over the last several years....

...Despite multiple attempts to stop or derail it, things keep chugging along. And come July 1, it looks like Maui residents are finally going to start getting the care they deserve....

...5pm Friday at Kauai Veterans Center, Lihue....

Hawaii's AG joins other states asking the federal government for a policy change that would allow the states greater flexibility to investigate Medicaid fraud....

...Presented jointly with PRI’s The World & WGBH News....

Hawaii--Avg Annual Wage for Nurses (adj for cost of living) – 51st

The bill will have it's final reading in the House on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, during the 9:00 a.m. Floor Session.  The Senate reading is also scheduled for May 2, 2017, during the 10:00 a.m. Floor Session....

... MAY 4, 2017 -- ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE ....

Karen Pence, a champion for art therapy programs, visited the arts and crafts building at Schofield, where she spoke with patients currently enrolled in art therapy programs....

Preparedness Index assesses all 50 states & District of Columbia for health security and preparedness....

28 key indicators of cost, quality and access to children’s health care....

IRS Ruling: Act 1 Cash Payout to HGEA members would cost ERS its nonprofit status .... 

“To the visitors already in the Hawaiian Islands or planning a trip here in the coming months, there is no need to be overly concerned. Please patronize our restaurants...."

I asked why CFS and other groups like Shaka aren’t informing followers of rat lungworm disease....

...Hawaii has 8 ‘A’ Hospitals out of 12 total hospitals....

On March 6 Hawai’i Free Press carried an article reporting on SB501: “Hawaii lawmakers are censoring pro-lifers who were defending free speech”.  Now the Attorney General has weighed in....