Hawaii Health Authority Appointed and Sworn In

By Steven Kemble

The Hawaii Health Authority has been appointed and sworn in. the HHA "shall be responsible for overall health planning for the state and shall be responsible for determining future capacity needs for health providers, facilities, equipment, and support services." "The authority shall develop a comprehensive health plan that includes:

1) Establishment of eligibility for inclusion in a health plan for all individuals;

2) Determination of all reimbursable services to be paid by the authority;

3) Determination of all approved providers of services in a health plan for all individuals;

4) Evaluation of health care and cost effectiveness of all aspects of a health plan for all individuals; and

5) Establishment of a budget for a health plan for all individuals in the state.

The authority shall determine the waivers that are necessary and available by federal law, rule, or regulation that are necessary to implement and maintain this chapter.

The members are:

Nathan Chang, MSW (UH School of Social Work)
Ritabelle Fernandez, MD (internist and geriatrician at KKV and KPHC, two community health centers serving the Medicaid population)
Reynaldo Graulty (former state senator, insurance commissioner, and judge)
Stephen Kemble, MD (internist and psychiatrist, working in both private practice and at Queen Emma Clinic, serving a Medicaid population)
S. Peter Kim, MD (child psychiatrist)
Lawrence Miike, MD, JD (former Director of Health)
Marion Poirier, RN (Director of National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Hawaii)
Wendy Schwab, DDS (Dentist and single-payer advocate from Maui)
Jory Watland (Former director of Kokua Kalihi Valley, community health center, and Director of Health Care for All Hawaii)