STAND. COM. REP. NO.  249-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1812

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize health care surrogates to act as authorized representatives to assist a patient with the Medicaid application process, redetermination of eligibility, and other related communications with the Department of Human Services.

 

     The Queen's Health Systems, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Aloha Nursing Rehab Centre, One Kalakaua Senior Living, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services provided comments.  

 

     While your Committee understands that the Department of Human Services currently has provisions in their administrative rules to accept an application and the documentation required to establish eligibility for Medicaid when someone acting responsibly for the incapacitated person submits them to the Department, your Committee finds that it is necessary to statutorily authorize health care surrogates to assist a patient with the Medicaid application process to avoid any confusion.

 

     Your Committee also notes the recommendations of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii that the measure be amended to clarify that a surrogate is explicitly afforded authority to complete a Medicaid application on behalf of the patient.  However, your Committee finds that the subject matter of the requested amendment falls under the purview of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.  Accordingly, your Committee on Health and Human Services respectfully requests the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce to consider this amendment request should it deliberate this measure further.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair