The new leader of the association representing most health-care facilities in Hawaii says he views this as “;a year of opportunity”; despite funding problems.

George W. Greene, who succeeded Richard E. “;Rich”; Meiers as president and chief executive officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii Sept. 1, plunged into the job with his focus on four areas: advocacy, public relations, educational programs and emergency management.

He said he has been talking to members, government officials and political candidates to identify health care issues and opportunities to “;develop programs and dollars to meet the needs.”;

Greene formerly was Region 9 director of the American Hospital Association, working on advocacy and membership relations with hospital executives in Hawaii and other western states.

Hawaii's health care industry “;is the only one that's growing”; and providing jobs in a depressed economy, Greene pointed out. “;It's the fourth-largest economic driver in the state,”; he said. “;It should be a vital and protected part of the infrastructure of the state.”;

Healthcare Association members include acute hospitals, long-term and home-care facilities and hospices.

“;We have taken on more challenges and begun the task of planning for a future in which our members will be asked to do more with less,”; Greene said in a message to the membership.

He plans to begin a strategic planning process in March with board members, community leaders, state and federal officials and others to develop a statewide plan for delivery of health care.

“;We need to assess needs and plan programs to take care of (those) needs,”; he said.

The Healthcare Association is proposing legislation to address some immediate problems, such as state funding required to match a federal appropriation designed to help hospitals that incur greater operating costs by caring for high numbers of low-income patients.

Hawaii and Tennessee are the only states without such funding, called Disproportionate Share payments, but Hawaii's congressional delegates have obtained similar federal funding to help Hawaii's hospitals.

A $15 million federal appropriation will be available through December but requires a matching $12.2 million in state funds. The Legislature appropriated the money last year, but the governor has not released it.

The Healthcare Association is asking again for the state money.

The association is also trying to solve another problem. At any given time about 200 patients who are ready to be discharged from acute-care hospitals have to be put on wait lists because long-term care facilities are not available.

Hospitals lose money on wait-listed patients because Medicaid pays only 20 to 30 percent of the actual costs of care, Greene said. Uncompensated care at the acute-care hospitals totaled more than $100 million last year.

Among many solutions being considered is a proposal that Medicaid be required to reimburse hospitals at the acute-care services rate for wait-listed patients.

Greene also is working with the state Department of Human Services to find “;creative ways”; to increase federal funding, and the Healthcare Association is sponsoring a bill to expand responsibilities of an oversight commission.

The Legislature created the commission last year to oversee distribution of federal stimulus funds to Hawaii and implementation of program expenditures.

The association wants the responsibilities broadened to include determining how much federal funding Hawaii qualifies for, the amounts actually obtained and how they are used.

“;It is an accountability bill,”; Greene said.