STAND. COM. REP. NO.  810

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1371

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1371 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is allocate a portion of federal funds received from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package to finance increased Medicaid reimbursements, disproportionate share hospital payments, and the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program.

     The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, AARP, and Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii supported this bill.  The Department of Human Services opposed this measure.  The Department of Health and Hawaii Government Employees Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Clarifying that the federal funds will be allocated specifically by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-5, or other federal stimulus acts; and

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

     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 H.B. No. 1371, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1371, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair