STAND. COM. REP. NO.  548-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2795

      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 Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2795 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the community health center system remains financially viable and stable to meet the increasing and changing health care needs of the population of uninsured and underinsured residents by establishing appropriate processes, conditions, and requirements for federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics to receive supplemental Medicaid payments and seek modifications to their scope of services.

     The Hawaii Primary Care Association, Molokai Ohana Health Care, Inc., Molokai Community Health Center, Waikiki Health Center, Hamakua Health Center, Inc., West Hawaii Community Health Center, Inc., Waimanalo Health Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Bay Clinic, Inc., and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services submitted comments.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2795, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2795, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

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