CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. -0 194-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 3270

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3270, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this bill is to provide cost-effective care for Hawaii residents who are uninsured, while at the same time ensuring that the community health center system remains financially viable and stable in the face of a growing population of uninsured.

This bill statutorily requires that federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics be reimbursed in accordance with relevant sections of the Social Security Act. Additionally, this bill appropriates funds to the Department of Health for direct medical care to the uninsured.

Your Committee on Conference amended this bill by:

(1) Inserting 1.75 percent as the cost threshold at which reimbursement rates paid to federally qualified health centers may be adjusted if exceeded;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2006;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $2,000,000; and

(4) Making technical, non-substantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3270, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3270, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

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DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Co-Chair

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

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ALEX M. SONSON, Co-Chair

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Co-Chair

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MARILYN B. LEE, Co-Chair

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair