Firms bid for QUEST program

Health care providers are bidding to participate in state of Hawaii Medicaid programs for low-income residents, or QUEST.

The Department of Human Services said Monday it will issue new contracts by the end of the year that are aimed at lowering costs to the state, improving health access and increasing the use of technology.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie says changing the way Medicaid programs operate will help address the soaring costs of health care.

The health plans must cover at least 10 annual inpatient days, 20 yearly outpatient visits, prescription medications, diabetes supplies, vaccines and emergency services.

The state’s current QUEST providers are AlohaCare, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, Kapiolani HealthHawaii, Queen’s Hawaii and StraubCare Quantum.

Freeway-shooting trial delayed

The trial of an accused freeway shooter has been rescheduled for Oct. 10.

Toby Stangel, 28, who is accused of killing Tammy Nguyen, a mother of 10, and injuring two others two months ago during a 17-minute freeway shooting spree, was supposed to go before Circuit Judge Glenn Kim Monday.

However, his attorney asked for an extension this week and the trial is now scheduled to begin Oct. 10.

Stangel entered a not guilty plea June 14 to 20 counts, including murder, attempted murder, firearms violations and drug possession for the freeway shooting that occurred from Kaimuki to Aiea early in the morning of June 3.

Rehab center for monk seals needs $300,000

nonprofit veterinary research hospital and educational center plans to build a $3 million rehabilitation center to treat Hawaiian monk seals on Hawaii island. 

The Sausalito, Calif.-based Marine Mammal Center has raised $700,000 toward building the facility on 2.6 acres next to West Hawaii Explorations Academy Public Charter School, West Hawaii Today reported Wednesday. An additional $300,000 is needed before groundbreaking can happen.

The Marine Mammal Center has treated more than 16,000 marine mammals at its facility in Marin County. It has smaller facilities in Monterey Bay and San Luis Obispo. The hospital at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority will be the group’s first outside of California.

There are only 1,200 Hawaiian monk seals remaining in the wild. The center said one of the main causes of juvenile seal deaths is starvation, so staff would feed young seals to help them survive.

Plans include in-ground pools that would be used to treat a maximum of 10 seals at a time and smaller tanks to raise newborn pups.

4 public meetings for Kauai residents planned by mayor

Kauai County Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will hold community meetings this month.

Meetings will be held Tuesday at Kilauea Neighborhood Center, Wednesday at Waimea Neighborhood Center, Aug. 23 at Lihue Neighborhood Center and Aug. 24 at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.

All meetings will run from 6 to 8 p.m. and will include a Holo Holo 2020 update and reports on projects of interest.