Posted at 2:57 p.m., Wednesday, October 18, 2006
HMSA to invest $50 million to improve patient care
Advertiser Staff
The Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's largest health insurer, wants to give away $50 million to the state's hospitals and physicians in the hopes of improving patient care and helping doctors and others reduce errors and duplication in record keeping.The company said over the next three years it will give $20 million to help physicians install electronic medical records systems. Another $30 million will be available to 17 hospitals for projects designed to better care.
The insurer said funding will come from its reserve and investment income and will not affect future dues. If the program works the state should see an improvement in the delivery of healthcare, it said.
"We do look at this as being an investment and not an expense," said Steve Van Lier Ribbink, HMSA chief financial officer.
