STAND. COM. REP. NO.  662-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2091

      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. 2091 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address problems related to Medicaid processing times by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide presumptive eligibility coverage to individuals waitlisted for Medicaid, upon meeting certain conditions;

     (2)  Requiring DHS to submit a report to the Legislature every year beginning with the 2011 Regular Session and ending with the 2015 Regular Session, of its findings and recommendations regarding costs and other issues related to Medicaid presumptive eligibility;

     (3)  Requiring DHS to conduct a study of a computerized system for processing Medicaid applications and submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2011 Regular Session, of its findings and recommendations for an alternative system for processing Medicaid applications; and

     (4)  Appropriating $200,000 for reimbursements to providers or plans for services provided for individuals who are granted presumptive eligibility but are later determined to be ineligible.

     The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, The Queen's Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente testified in support of this bill.  DHS opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the amount of the appropriation to an unspecified amount, to encourage further discussion;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020; 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. 2091, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2091, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair