Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2563 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish Sage PLUS specialist positions for Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties and for operating costs to expand and support the Sage PLUS program on the neighbor islands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging and Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.

The Sage PLUS program is currently housed and staffed only on Oahu. The program provides services about 186,000 residents receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Volunteers provide limited service on the neighbor islands for residents of Hilo, Kona, Maui, and Kauai, but there is no office or staff support available to them.

Your Committees believe that it is critical to have a staff person situated on each island to ensure that necessary information and assistance about benefits, options, and rights are provided in a timely manner by a knowledgeable person.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2563 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.