Two bills that would allow the transition of Hawaii’s public health facilities to private status — and open the door for a potential takeover of multiple facilities by mainland nonprofit Banner Health Systems Inc. — are working their way through the Legislature.

On Wednesday, House Bills 1483 and 1484 passed through hearings by the state House of Representatives committees on Health, and Labor and Public Employment.

Introduced by state Rep. Della Au Belatti, D-Makiki, Tantalus, Papakolea, McCully, Pawaa, Manoa, HB 1483 serves to permit Hawaii Health Systems Corp. and its facilities, including Hawaii Island’s Hilo Medical Center, Ka‘u Hospital, Kona Community Hospital, Kohala Hospital, and Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, to make the transition to non-public status. Among those helping to co-sponsor the bill is state Rep. Faye Hanohano, D-Puna.

Meanwhile, HB 1484, also introduced by Belatti, would alter the governance structure of HHSC, making regional chief executive officers, including East Hawaii CEO Howard Ainsley, nonvoting members of the regional boards. It would also establish a new personnel and retirement system, and create new employee collective bargaining units. Read the full story.

Meth bill not likely to advance

Report: Hawaii trails behind other states in Medicare benefits

Kihei project violates ’95 conditions — LUC

Big Isle public supports parks takeover

Bill would make it tougher to get some medicines

Wailuku gas prices up 8 cents from last week

WorkWise’s Rapid Response team offers support for mass layoffs

Photo courtesy Navin75.