Hearing Date: April 8, 2015, 9:45 a.m. Hearing Location: Room 221 Committee: Senate Committee on Ways and Means Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor Testifier: Jesse K. Souki, Esq. Bill: HB1075 HD2 SD1, Relating to Health Description: Authorizes the Maui Regional System to enter into an agreement with a private entity to transition one or more of its facilities into a new private Hawaii nonprofit corporation Position: Support

1. Hearing Date: April 8, 2015, 9:45 a.m.
Hearing Location: Room 221
Committee: Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor
Testifier: Jesse K. Souki, Esq.
Bill: HB1075 HD2 SD1, Relating to Health
Description: Authorizes the Maui Regional System to enter into an agreement with a
private entity to transition one or more of its facilities into a new private
Hawaii nonprofit corporation
Position: Support
Island communities in the State of Hawaii should have the same basic level of care as
people who live on Oahu.
If nothing changes, the Maui Memorial Medical Center will fail without significant
reductions in staff and service. The state funding model is not working. The current system is
resulting in the elimination of needed services and reduced care. No amount of talent and
dedication by doctors, technicians, and support staff can save this failing system as it currently
stands.
Maui Memorial cannot fail. It is the only full-service, acute care facility in the county.
Allowing Maui Memorial to fail would place nearly 160,000 residents and 2.3 million visitors per
year in jeopardy. After years of handwringing about what to do, Maui’s healthcare future is at a
tipping point—action is required now.
Quality healthcare in all communities must be at the top of Hawaii’s policy agenda. It is
essential to a healthy, happy, and thriving society along with clean water, shelter, and food.
Working families and young professionals make decisions about where they live based on
fundamental necessities like adequate health care. Allowing Maui’s only acute care hospital to
fail, or worse, operate at a deficit, would condemn Maui to increased outmigration, less
visitors, and second-class health options for Maui’s residents.
I care deeply about this bill’s outcome as someone from Maui, where most all of my
immediate and extended family reside. I urge your committee to allow the public-private
partnership model to work and enable Maui Memorial Medical Center to provide quality
service to its community.
Mahalo for your consideration.