STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2727

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2057

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2057, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend the operation of the nursing facility sustainability program for an additional year.

 

This measure also exempts the nursing facility sustainability program special fund from departmental administrative expenses and central services expenses assessments.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services and Hawaii Primary Care Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that the nursing facility sustainability program has successfully leveraged fees to increase reimbursements to nursing facilities.  Your Committee notes that in fiscal year 2012-2013, nursing facilities were assessed $11,535,405 in sustainability fees and received $21,086,740 in additional reimbursement.  Your Committee finds that continuing the nursing facility sustainability program for an additional year will help to continue increased federal reimbursements to nursing facilities.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure; and

 

(3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2057, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2057, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair