Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 63 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor to convene a state panel to develop a standard payment rate for mental health services provided to children under state contracts.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Blueprint for Change and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health and the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that currently there exist discrepancies in provider rates between state agency contracts for mental health services for children, resulting in some state programs not being able to procure services due to limited funds to pay for such services. Your Committee further finds that it is not in the State's best interest, nor does it serve the needs of our children, to allow for state agencies to compete for services for the same clientele. Your Committee is optimistic that the parties involved should be able to reach consensus on this issue.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 63 and recommends its adoption.