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Committee advances funding measure for West Hawaii outpatient center; Queen's pledges initial funds
Summary
House Bill 19-78 to support a West Hawaii outpatient care center was advanced after Queen's Health Systems said it had appropriated $30 million to select an architect and finalize drawings; community and chamber leaders urged passage.
The House Committee on Health voted to move forward House Bill 19-78, a measure relating to the West Hawaii regional health-care system and an outpatient care center in North Kona.
Ed Chu of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation said HHSC stands on written testimony in strong support. A Queens Health Systems representative updated the committee that Queen's board has appropriated an initial $30,000,000 to select an architect and finalize drawings for the project and that the system is coordinating with Kona Community Hospital and HHSC.
Wendy Larras, president and CEO of the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce, said passage will support workforce stability, business retention and regional economic development and urged the committee to remove the $50,000,000 appropriation from statute and instead place it in report language; the chair accepted that approach and moved the bill forward with amendments.
The committee adopted the recommendation to pass with amendments and moved the bill as a house draft.
