Star Advertiser Editorial Slams Ige And Colleagues For State Hospital Woes

Senator Ige Ignored Warning Signs, Voted To Underfund Hospitals Now Cutting Services On Oahu, Maui And Kauai

News Release from Hawaii Republican Party September 29, 2014

HONOLULU (January 29, 2014) - A Honolulu Star Advertiser editorial today slammed Senator David Ige and his legislative colleagues for their lack of action and fiscal mismanagement that has lead to layoffs and a reduction of services at Hawaii Health Systems Corp. (HHSC) facilities across Hawaii. This is another reminder that the Abercrombie-Ige policy agenda of the past four years is failing the Hawaii families that are struggling to make ends meet.

"Senator Ige and Governor Abercrombie raised taxes and fees on Hawaii families and small businesses over $833 million, and yet the state's finances are still in disarray and the cost of living is soaring. As the long-standing woes at HHSC show, Hawaii simply cannot afford four more years of the same failed policies." --Hawaii Republican Party Communications Advisor Ted Kwong

BACKGROUND:

A Star Advertiser Editorial Monday Slammed Legislators, Including Senate Ways And Means Chairman David Ige. "Shamefully, legislators have known about this impending implosion for years, at least since late 2009, when a state-commissioned report outlined in dire detail the myriad, intractable problems with this broken public model. It estimated, for instance, that privatization of the workforce would save about $50 million annually." (Editorial, "Public hospitals need fixing ASAP," Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9/29/14)

• "It behooves the next governor to take control of this unsustainable HHSC situation, and set the tone for long-term remedy; the issue rightly emerged during Thursday's gubernatorial forum on PBS." (Editorial, "Public hospitals need fixing ASAP," Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9/29/14)

As Chairman Of Ways And Means, Ige Purposefully Underfunded State Hospitals, Directly Resulting In This Fiscal Crisis. "The reason the HHSC doesn't have enough money is because the 2014 state Legislature stopped giving the hospitals emergency subsidies. Over the years the subsidies have increased and become such a regular part of the yearly budget process it is difficult to understand why the request is always included as an emergency. State Rep. Bert Kobayashi, a former administrator of the hospital system, says this year the Legislature purposely decided not to fund the HHSC's entire request." (Richard Borreca, "State's public hospitals in dire need of attention," Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8/29/14)

• Ige Supported The Funding Measure That Governor Abercrombie Signed Into Law. (SB2866 SD1 HD1 CD1, capitol.hawaii.gov, Accessed 8/31/14)

PROBLEMS ACROSS THE STATE

On Oahu: "On Oahu, a long-term care facility will be out of cash in May and unable to make payroll payments, said Derek Akiyoshi, CEO for the Oahu region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. It is ending its adult day health care on Saturdays. 'Ultimately our core long-term care services will have to be eliminated,' Akiyoshi said." (Cathy Bussewitz, "Hawaii public hospitals dealing with $30M deficit," Associated Press, 9/20/14)

On Maui: "One hospital on Maui chose to close its adolescent psychology unit because it couldn’t sustain the appropriate staffing levels to provide the services. It’s also considering cuts to oncology and dialysis services if the situation doesn’t improve." (Cathy Bussewitz, "Hawaii public hospitals dealing with $30M deficit,"Associated Press, 9/20/14)

On Kauai: "HHSC is in the process of eliminating more than 30 positions, mostly on Kauai, in the first round of cuts intended to offset the deficit this year. The facilities, which have minimal cash on hand and are continually behind in vendor payments, have 4,500 full- and part-time employees and said further reductions might occur later in the year." (Kristen Consillio, "Funding shortfall could close public isle hospitals, officials warn," Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9/20/14)

###