Report Title:

Medical Assistance; Medicaid; Federal Medical Assistance Percentage

Description:

Provides that the State of Hawaii's contribution to the Medicaid program shall not be decreased as a result of an increase in the federal medical assistance percentage. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1579

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to medical care payments.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that medicaid payments made to health care providers for services to the aged, blind, and disabled population are not sufficient to cover the actual costs of care. Hawaii's medicaid program is funded by state moneys and federal matching funds. Health care providers have made efforts to increase the federal match (the federal medical assistance percentage, or FMAP). In recent years, however, when the federal match has increased, the State has reduced its portion so that the total funding for Hawaii's medicaid program has remained the same.

The purpose of this Act is to prevent the reduction of the State's share of medicaid funding when the federal portion is increased so that payments to health care providers can increase to cover the actual costs of care.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 346-59, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the State of Hawaii's contribution to the medicaid program shall not be decreased as a result of an increase in the federal medical assistance percentage.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.