Local, nonprofit health plan AlohaCare recently awarded Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) $72,000 to enhance and increase patient screening and care through the MCHC’s Early Intervention Program. MCHC was one of 14 community health centers and clinics statewide that received AlohaCare funding, totaling $1.62 million in incentive awards.
Two opinions on a plan for health care on Molokai emerged last week: residents want a patient-centric, easy-to-navigate system with choices, while providers are concerned about finding funding to keep their services available.
“I would like it if our current health care providers would stop squabbling,” said Jeannine Rossa, a Molokai resident, via the Dispatch’s Facebook page. “We need them all. We like them all. We want them all.”
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Brigid Mulloy, a certified nurse midwife (CNM), has been named the 2011 Distinguished Alumna for the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming. Mulloy was the featured speaker at the School of Nursing Convocation Ceremony on May 7, where she spoke to an audience of 500 people about her experiences as a midwife on Molokai. She was also honored at that ceremony for her excellence in clinical practice as a CNM and for her outstanding community contributions.
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In a historic move, the island’s health care providers gathered last week to discuss how to co-exist peacefully.
The meeting – the first of many – was called by the Department of Health (DOH), stemming from concerns over duplication of services between Molokai General Hospital (MGH) and the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC).
Recently proposed Medicaid qualification standards would leave around 4,500 without health insurance around Hawaii. The state Department of Human Services (DHS) proposal decreases the number of residents qualified to use Medicaid, while increasing spending on the benefits of those who remain. Molokai health care providers are concerned about how the changes will affect residents.
DHS announced last week they are decreasing the eligibility based on the federal poverty level (FPL), to help curb spending woes. Currently, applicants that have an income within 200 percent of FPL are qualified – for example, a family of four would be Medicaid-covered if they have a maximum yearly income of $51,420, according to the Foundation for Health Coverage Education.
After delays in the transformation of the old Pau Hana Inn into the new Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC), the organization received the second installment of state funds last week that will allow them to complete phase one of renovations. The MCHC also received a Special Area Management (SMA) permit from the Molokai Planning Commission (MoPC) last Wednesday – a green light for the second phase of construction.
Renovation work was halted in the first phase of its construction after delays in the release of $1 million in state funds allocated for the project. Desiree Puhi, executive director of MCHC, said it will take about a year to complete the second phase.
Total cost of the project is about $6.5 million.
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Community contributed by Billy Akutagawa
Judy Mikami, who is working as the associate director and resource developer for Na Pu`uwai on Molokai, was recently presented with the 2011 Dr. Alexander F. Ka`onohi award. The award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the health, healing and well-being of Native Hawaiians and their families. Her work was especially noted for the Native Hawaiian communities of Molokai and Lanai.
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Community Contributed by Barbara Helm, bereavement coordinator
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Community contributed
By Clare Mawae
Race four and not a breath of wind in sight. The seas were calm on Saturday, April 16, and many of the competitors had other commitments with family, work, baseball, and fractured wrists. Eha Kamala and Alex Mawae were the two lone stand up paddlers that chose to take on the calm elements and the test of endurance. Both Slater Oswald and Josie Mawae fractured their wrists at the skate park, and Kekai Adachi was batting the ball with his baseball game at the park.
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Not only are the youth of Molokai learning the latest “takedown” techniques and gaining endurance in the Molokai Wrestling Club, but they are also having fun and staying out of trouble.
“Wrestling to us is a learning experience to help us for the future,” said Mikayla Pico, Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) D-II all-star wrestler for Molokai High School (MHS), who wrestles in the club during the off season. “It teaches us life skills, being goal oriented and makes us a stronger person.”
These days, the group is gearing up for their first tournament of the season, held at Maui’s War Memorial Gym this Saturday, April 30 where they will compete against nine other teams.
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