Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 9, 1 September 1992 — Hawaiian health act clears Senate [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian health act clears Senate

The Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act cleared the U.S. Senate recently to continue to fund Native Hawaiian heahh care systems and eenters, reports U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. He is confident that the act will pass the U.S. House of Representatives soon. Inouye said he was advised in August that the administration would not oppose reauthorization of the act.

The act, whieh heeame law in 1988, was scheduled to expire this year. Under its authorization, five Native Hawaiian heahh care systems have been developed. These systems offer culturally sensitive and relevant heahh care services, including ho'oponopono, the services of kahuna lapa'au and primary care. Its goal is to improve heahh care access for Native Hawaiians.

The five heahh care systems are operating on O'ahu, Maui, Hawai'i, Kaua'i and Moloka'i. Papa Ola Lokahi, the Native Hawaiian Heahh Board, is providing technical training and support. Papa 01 a Lokahi directo, Larry Miike said the five centers are gearing up to offer heahh care referral services and primary care with a $2.35 million budget that has already been approved through Sept. 1993.