A budget deficit of 1.23 billion and outstanding debts of more than 8 billion dollars have resulted in Hawaii slashing Health Care services
Department of Health
• Abolishment of Dental Hygiene Services. Preventive services to students will no longer be offered.
• Abolishment of the Community Health Division and consolidation of services into the Tobacco Settlement program account.
• Restructuring and merging existing services into a new General Medical and Prevention Services Division.
• Reduction of 37 permanent positions (20% reduction) in the Adult Mental Health program for outpatient services.
• Reduction of 62 permanent positions (36% reduction) in the Family Health Services program.
• Reduction of 23 permanent positions (89% reduction) in the Public Health Nursing program relating to school health aides.
• Reduction of 37 permanent positions (63% reduction) in the Vector Control Branch.
Department of Human Services
• Elimination of HMS 212 (Cash Support for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Individuals) and consolidating services into HMS 202 (Aged, Blind, and Disabled Payments) and HMS 204 (General Assistance Payments).
• Curtailment of benefits in the Medicaid Adult Dental Services program to include emergency dental services only.
• Reduction of healthcare costs through implementation of managed care and the new Basic Health Hawaii plan.
• A reduction of 113 permanent positions (38% reduction) in the Medicaid program.
Department of Accounting and General Services
• Deletion of 57 permanent positions (30% reduction) in the Information Processing and Communications Services program.
• Deletion of 49 permanent positions (33% reduction) in the Custodial Services program.