STAND. COM. REP. NO.  37-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2062

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2062 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote independence and choice for individuals eligible under Medicaid by allowing Medicaid funds to be transferred from a nursing facility or long-term care-based facility to home- or community-based long-term care, support, or services.

     The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, ILWU Local 142, Hana Health, and Hawaii Centers for Independent Living testified in support of this bill.  The Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Human Services and Hawaii Coalition of Caregivers provided comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2062, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health,

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair