Kapiolani looks
ahead to more
home health service

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Roger Drue, Kapiolani Health president and chief executive officer, says the company will continue to expand the home health services to provide continuous care for patients whose medical needs go beyond the hospital or clinic.

Drue responded to yesterday's announcement of a $3.4 million settlement between Kapiolani Health and the federal and state governments over allegations that two of Kapiolani Health's now-inactive home health companies submitted false claims to government health care programs between July 1, 1995 and Aug. 31, 1997.

Drue said Kapiolani Health was not fully aware of the documentation, claims processing and training deficiencies in the two companies, Kapiolani Home Health Services and Kapiolani Extended Care, until mid-1997. That's when it began to address the problems and initiate talks with the federal government to repay funds based on invalid home health claims.

He said both companies ceased operation in 1998 and the executive-level personnel responsible for running the two companies are no longer with Kapiolani. The company has strengthened its monitoring and training on health care compliance regulations, expanded its formal compliance programs and created an internal audit division.

Drue said Kapiolani Health's decision to expand into the home health arena is still a sound idea, and it was the way it was implemented that was not well done.

"The problems in our former home health companies do not represent who we are, what we stand for or how we normally do business," Drue said."We are gratified that the governments' investigation did not identify any quality of care issues or involve any allegation of financial or billing irregularities in our hospitals."

Kapiolani Health is the parent company of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Kapiolani Women's Center, Kapiolani Health Foundation and the Kapiolani HealthHawaii health plan.