STAND. COM. REP. NO. 938
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1203
Honorable Colleen Hanabusa
President of the Senate
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2007
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1203 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish a "cash and counseling" pilot program in Hawaii.
More specifically, the Department of Human Services would establish the program under which recipients of Medicaid personal care services or home- and community-based services receive a flexible monthly allowance and decide whom to hire and the services needed.
Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Kokua Council. The Department of Human Services, the Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition, and the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs submitted comments.
Your Committee finds that under current law, there is a limited choice of programs available for the elderly for personal care services. The measure will allow recipients to choose a family member or friend, in lieu of an agency worker, to provide that personal care service, enabling these family members or friends to receive an offset to some of their financial sacrifices.
Your Committee finds that establishing this pilot program for recipients of Medicaid personal care services will promote independence, responsibleness, and confidence in recipients and at the same time, recognize and support family caregivers and friends for their efforts.
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. 1203 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair |
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