STAND. COM. REP. NO.  598-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2084

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2084 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FEDERAL DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to meet rising health care costs and ensure that Hawaii's residents have continued access to quality health care by appropriating state funds to maximize the availability of the federal disproportionate share hospital allowance.  Specifically, this measure appropriates $12,654,867 to:

     (1)  Match the federal disproportionate share hospital allowance allocated to Hawaii for fiscal year (FY) 2010; and

     (2)  Obtain matching federal disproportionate share hospital allowance for prior FY expenditures by the State.

     Hawaii Pacific Health; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the specific appropriation amount to match the federal disproportionate share allowance;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 2084, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2084, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair