STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1372

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 55

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.C.R. No. 55 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT TO HAWAII PROVIDERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to help facilitate improved medical services access for Medicaid and Medicare recipients by requesting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to raise the Medicare fee schedule payment amounts for physicians rendering services in Hawaii.

     The Department of Human Services supported this concurrent resolution.

     Your Committees note that while Hawaii and Guam currently have their geographic practice cost indices (GPCI) set at the same rate, they are not considered an intact geographic region.  CMS sets the GPCI for Hawaii and then applies this rate to Guam as well.  Accordingly, there is no need to request CMS to consider disaggregating Hawaii and Guam in its next periodic review.  Your Committees respectfully request the Committee on Finance to consider this issue as this concurrent resolution moves through the legislative process.

     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 concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 55 and recommend that it 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