Medical vans to aid homeless could cost state $1.4M annually
The state would spend $1.4 million every year to operate two mobile medical clinics aimed at helping sick or injured homeless people under a Senate bill aimed at cutting emergency room costs to treat homeless people for non-life-threatening issues.
State Sen. Josh Green (D, Kona-Kau) moved SB 347 out of his Human Services Committee on Friday on a vote of 3-0.
Green, a Big Island emergency room physician, said he would volunteer for mobile clinic shifts himself and would recruit other doctors and nurses and health care students to join him.
Green envisions the two mobile clinics operating primarily on Oahu but periodically shipping one to the neighbor islands to treat the medical needs of the homeless there.
Read more: http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/01/30/hawaii-news/medical-vans-to-aid-homeless-could-cost-state-1-4m-annually/