Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2770, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the public health nursing services special fund to receive and expend Medicaid reimbursements for case management services to meet the needs of medically fragile children.

Your Committee finds that although medically fragile children often require early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment case management services, there is a shortage of agencies qualified to provide the needed services. As a result, the Department of Health has requested the public health nursing branch program of the Department of Health to provide case management services that will help these children obtain medical, social, and education services they require. Your Committee believes that establishing the special fund and authorizing the Department of Health to expend the Medicaid reimbursements deposited into the special fund will help medically fragile children receive the services that they need.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 2770, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2770, S.D. 2.