STAND. COM. REP. NO.  442

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 706

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. 706 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to proved more equitable Medicaid reimbursements for patients waitlisted for long-term care by:

     (1)  Establishing guidelines for Medicaid reimbursement to acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities based on the patient's condition; and

     (2)  Appropriating $6,200,000 to cover the increased Medicaid reimbursement costs.

     The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Kaiser Permanente, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services testified in opposition to this measure.

     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. 706 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