SR 69: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE AN AEROMEDICAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP.

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE AN AEROMEDICAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP.

     WHEREAS, it is of critical importance to the State to ensure residents have prompt access to primary health care; and

     WHEREAS, most rural communities in the State have fewer health care resources compared to communities on Oahu, including access to advanced levels of trauma care, medical specialists, and subspecialists; and

     WHEREAS, patients in these rural areas are at greater risk of poor health outcomes for serious medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, and traumatic bodily injuries; and

     WHEREAS, the existing aeromedical services system is overburdened and is currently served by only one statewide aeromedical services provider, for which there are few viable and cost-effective alternatives in the event of a grounding, for example, due to maintenance issues or crew availability; and

     WHEREAS, there are a number of barriers to expanding the aeromedical services system, including insufficient funding, plans, procedures, and protocols; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Health is requested to convene an Aeromedical Services Working Group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

     (2)  The Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, or a member appointed by the President of the Senate;

     (3)  The Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, or a member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

     (4)  The Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Director of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, or the Director's designee;

     (6)  The Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (7)  The Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (8)  The Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (9)  A representative of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health;

    (10)  A representative of the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health;

    (11)  One representative from a health system operating in the State, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health;

    (12)  Two representatives from independent providers operating in the State, at least one of whom operates in the County of Maui, Kauai, or Hawaii, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health; and

    (13)  Two representatives from providers of emergency aeromedical services who have conducted operations in the State within the last five years and can provide comprehensive air medical services with rotor- and fixed-wing support, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to, at a minimum:

     (1)  Study and assess emergency aeromedical services needs across the State and in each county; and

     (2)  Develop and recommend future plans, procedures, protocols, and funding to increase the predictability and stability of air ambulance medical services for the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to dissolve on June 30, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Director of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, and Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.

Report Title:

Department of Health; Emergency Management Systems; Aeromedical Services Working Group; Report

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE AN AEROMEDICAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP.

     WHEREAS, it is of critical importance to the State to ensure residents have prompt access to primary health care; and

     WHEREAS, most rural communities in the State have fewer health care resources compared to communities on Oahu, including access to advanced levels of trauma care, medical specialists, and subspecialists; and

     WHEREAS, patients in these rural areas are at greater risk of poor health outcomes for serious medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, and traumatic bodily injuries; and

     WHEREAS, the existing aeromedical services system is overburdened and is currently served by only one statewide aeromedical services provider, for which there are few viable and cost-effective alternatives in the event of a grounding, for example, due to maintenance issues or crew availability; and

     WHEREAS, there are a number of barriers to expanding the aeromedical services system, including insufficient funding, plans, procedures, and protocols; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Health is requested to convene an Aeromedical Services Working Group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group consist of the following members:

     (1)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

     (2)  The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, or a member appointed by the President of the Senate;

     (3)  The Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, or a member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

     (4)  The Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Director of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, or the Director's designee;

     (6)  The Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (7)  The Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (8)  The Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (9)  A representative of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health;

    (10)  A representative of the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health;

    (11)  One representative from a health system operating in the State, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health;

    (12)  Two representatives from independent providers operating in the State, at least one of whom operates in the County of Maui, Kauai, or Hawaii, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health; and

    (13)  Two representatives from providers of emergency aeromedical services who have conducted operations in the State within the last five years and can provide comprehensive air medical services with rotor and fizzled wing support, to be selected and invited to participate by the Director of Health; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to, at a minimum:

     (1)  Study and assess emergency aeromedical services needs across the State and in each county; and

     (2)  Develop and recommend future plans, procedures, protocols, and funding to increase the predictability and stability of air ambulance medical services for the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be dissolved on June 30, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Director of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, and Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.

Report Title:

Department of Health; Emergency Management Systems; Aeromedical Services Working Group; Report

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1556

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 69

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 69 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE AN AEROMEDICAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene an Aeromedical Services Working Group.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Air Methods, and Hawaii Medical Association.

     Your Committee finds that the existing aeromedical services system is in the State overburdened and is currently served by only one statewide aeromedical services provider, for which there are few viable and cost-effective alternatives in the event of a grounding.  Your Committee further finds that there are a number of barriers to expanding the aeromedical services system, including insufficient funding, plans, procedures, and protocols, and that deliberate collaboration is warranted to address the State's aeromedical services system inadequacies.  Accordingly, this resolution convenes an Aeromedical Services Working Group to promote collaboration amongst emergency medical services providers, legislators, executive agencies, hospitals, health insurance providers, and air medical companies to develop plans, procedures, and protocols, and secure and provide funding to improve the State's aeromedical services system.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 69, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 69, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,