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Committee amends Molokai physician and dentist recruitment study bill; directs further work and blanks appropriation
Summary
The committee approved an amended study direction for SB 557 requiring a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention for Molokai, blanked appropriation amounts in committee amendments, and recorded an aye vote with several senators while asking the university and community groups to refine study language and partners.
The Senate Committee on Higher Education on Feb. 6 voted to amend Senate Bill 557, which would require the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) to direct Huli Au Oli to conduct a study on recruiting and retaining physicians and dentists to serve Molokai. The committee approved an amended measure (SD1) that blanks out appropriation amounts and defers an effective date; committee members said the amendment places the measure in a form suitable for further discussion and budget review.
Chair Kim said the committee would incorporate Attorney General language and consider a grant mechanism if needed. The committee also suggested additional discussion with local stakeholders about which entity should lead the study; JABSOM representatives recommended routing work to Julia Ola (Huli Ao Oli) and offered technical assistance. Kelly Withy of JABSOM said the school could help but that the project had not been included in the medical school's budget.
Multiple Molokai residents and local health leaders testified in favor. Kimberly Mikami Sveten, a Molokai native and manager of the family-owned Molokai Drugs pharmacy, described a severe local shortage of clinicians and said “Currently, we have no Molokai raised physicians practicing on island.” She told the committee many Molokai-raised clinicians practice elsewhere and that retaining clinicians on Molokai likely requires housing assistance, loan repayment and competitive salaries. Sveten also reported that in 2024 there were four dentists on Molokai; as of the start of the year there were two dentists and a locum and long waits for dental care at community clinics.
Rosie Davis, director of the County Area Health Education Center, urged the committee to support the study and to develop written data to move beyond “talk story” about workforce recruitment. Davis said local transportation limits and lifestyle preferences affect retention and that community-based strategies are needed to encourage Molokai‑raised students to return.
In decision-making, the chair proposed an SD1 amendment to blank appropriation amounts, adopt AG-recommended language, and defer the effective date; the committee approved the amendment. The roll call during decision-making recorded the chair and vice chair voting aye, and other members recorded as present voted in favor; one senator was listed as excused.
Ending: The bill as amended (SD1) was adopted by the committee with direction to refine language on the grant mechanism and local lead and to coordinate further with JABSOM, local partners and the Attorney General’s office prior to appropriation consideration.
