With funding to keep some hospitals open for only about six more months, the company that runs more than a dozen public facilities told lawmakers today things have to change -- fast.

The operators are considering everything from layoffs to sell-offs, meanwhile lawmakers and the administration mull how to pump more money to bail them out.

"The situation's bad -- it's bad for everybody," said Rick Vidgen of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. “If we don't take some action now, then the hospitals will run out of money in six months."

HHSC runs 13 Hawaii facilities and they say the cash crunch is most pronounced on the neighbor islands.

"You've got Maui, Hilo, Kona and Kauai, and that's where the problems are, there's no doubt," Vidgen says.

A legislative task force heard from administrators and industry representatives today about how to turn the tide of a $62 million shortfall.

"I think the first hospital to run out would probably be Hilo and that was going to be in late October,” Vidgen said, “so it's not far down the track. Things have got to change."

A request for $57 million in supplemental state money didn't pan out, so the system’s regional boards are making backup plans.

"Some of the plans include a possible reduction in work force, and I think that's possibly inevitable," Viden said.

Job cutbacks area already in place in West Hawaii and Honolulu. HHSC is trying to avoid slashing services or closing doors.

"It's very difficult for us to comprehend being able to serve the people of Hawaii with any continued losses in capacity," said Coral Andrews of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

The governor's office a noninterference law limits what she can or can't do, but they say she recognizes the public safety issue, won't let the hospitals go, and realizes people are looking to her. Lawmakers are urging an emergency appropriation.

"Hopefully the governor will join us to take a look at how we can preserve services, largely on the neighbor islands but Oahu as well," said Sen. Rosalyn Baker, (D) Maui. “It all depends on what your priorities are, and we think that health care is an important priority."

The state isn't the only solution -- federal Medicare reimbursements that have shorted Hawaii in the past could improve under efforts in Washington.