STAND. COM. REP. NO. 617

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1150

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1150, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SKILLED NURSING FACILITY LICENSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Allow the Department of Health to accept accreditation or certification of a skilled nursing facility by a nationally recognized accreditation or certification organizations; and

 

     (2)  Exempt skilled nursing facilities from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis, provided they meet certain requirements.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that The Joint Commission and other nationally recognized accrediting agencies have certification standards that are more stringent than those required by state law.  Your Committee further finds that authorizing the Department of Health to recognize these accreditation and certification reviews to establish a facility's compliance with all licensing requirements of the State will allow the Department of Health more resources to continue its regulatory oversight responsibilities for licensing purposes, while also permitting the Department's Office of Healthcare Assurance to deploy staffing resources to other equally important investigations and surveys.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1150, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair