STAND. COM. REP. NO.  511

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1284

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1284 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure access to medical care by making certain that health care payments made with state funds are sufficient to cover the actual costs of care.  This bill makes an appropriation to increase the payment for physician services for Medicaid-eligible individuals.

     The Hawaii Medical Association, Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committees note that while DHS believes this measure has merit, it would not be prudent to pursue enactment at this time given current fiscal difficulties.  DHS added, however, that should this bill move forward, it should be amended to include QUEST Expanded Access plans, given that a large number of aged, blind, and disabled Medicaid recipients have transitioned into it.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1284 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair