STAND. COM. REP. NO.94

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 296

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 296 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to set Medicaid payments at a level that fairly compensates hospitals and long-term care providers.

Your Committee recognizes that long-term care in Hawaii is a growing concern as our population is aging. Further, many of the local long-term care providers and nursing homes are receiving as little as 75 percent reimbursement from Medicaid for the cost of health care. Your Committee understands that health care providers wish only to cover costs of health care, and this measure would enable them to do so.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii State Primary Care Association, Leeward Integrated Health Services, Wahiawa General Hospital, North Hawaii Community Hospital, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queen's Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Pearl City Nursing Home, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Beverly Healthcare, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Ann Pearl Nursing Facility, and Hawaii Foot Clinic.

Testimony in opposition of this measure was submitted by DHS.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Inserting $1 for all appropriation amounts to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 296, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 296, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Housing,

____________________________

MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair