STAND. COM. REP. NO.1500

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.C.R. No. 130

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 130 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE HEALTH CARE FINANCING ADMINISTRATION TO ADJUST HAWAII'S AEROMEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES BY PROVIDING FOR IMMEDIATE PHASE-IN OF THE PROPOSED MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge the United States Congress and the Health Care Financing Administration to adjust Hawaii's aeromedical reimbursement rates by providing an immediate phase-in of the proposed Medicare fee schedule.

The Department of Health and Hawaii Air Ambulance (HAA) submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committees note that Hawaii's Medicare reimbursement rates are based on a formula that differs from the rest of the nation because rates are set according to the airports used. Your Committees also note that the Bush Administration has put a freeze on all new rule changes affecting the new fee schedule, which was to go into effect this year.

 

Your Committees recognize that HAA provides a valuable service and is the only capable aeromedical transportation service in the State. Furthermore, your Committees note that at the present Medicare rates, HAA is barely covering its operational costs and may not be able to provide this service much longer if this trend continues.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 130 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair

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DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair