Hawaii Health Systems to remain a part of insurance network

A new three-year agreement has been reached that will keep Hawaii Health Systems Corporation as part of the UHA Health Insurance network.

The agreement is significant for Hawaii Island, because HHSC facilities include Hilo Medical Center, Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, Ka‘u Hospital, Kohala Hospital and Kona Community Hospital.

"We are pleased that we have reached an agreement with UHA that recognizes the value that our facilities provide to UHA's members on the islands of Hawaii and Kauai," said Edward N. Chu, vice president and CFO of HHSC, in a statement. "As a public hospital system, HHSC receives a state subsidy to provide its services. We have a fiduciary responsibility to every taxpayer in Hawaii to ensure fair payment is reached for the health care services that are provided to our island communities."

UHA was established in 1996 by a local group of physician teachers at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and has expanded to include more than 4,000 employer groups and roughly 57,000 individuals statewide.

UHA currently pays between 80% and 90% of hospital and emergency room payments, depending on the type of plan and coverage.

"As a local, physician-founded health insurer, UHA's goal is to consistently provide access to affordable, high-quality patient care for its members and the people of Hawaii," UHA President and CEO Howard Lee said in a statement.