STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1622-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 3258

      S.D. 3

      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 Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3258, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID HOSPITAL AND LONG-TERM CARE REIMBURSEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to work toward addressing Hawaii's long-term care needs by:

     (1)  Establishing guidelines for Medicaid reimbursement to:

          (A)  Hospitals for patients who are waitlisted for long-term care; and

          (B)  Long-term care facilities for patients with medically complex conditions who were previously receiving care in an acute care hospital;

          and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for increased Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and facilities with long-term care beds.

     The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Queen's Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii supported this bill.  The Department of Human Services opposed this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3258, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair