STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1233-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   S.B. No. 1178

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1178, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the availability of kidney dialysis treatment, particularly during power outages, by requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to review the emergency plans of all dialysis centers in Hawaii and post a list on DOH's website of all dialysis centers in Hawaii that have backup emergency generators with the capacity to sustain dialysis treatments and maintain their water treatment system in the event of a power outage.

     For purposes of the public hearing, your Committee made available to the public a proposed H.D. 2 version that deletes the provisions of the bill and inserts new language appropriating emergency funds to address a funding shortfall in the Medicaid program. 

     The Department of Human Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Primary Care Association, ‘Ohana Health Plan, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and AlohaCare testified in support of the proposed H.D. 2. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by adopting the language in the proposed H.D. 2, to ensure the availability of the Medicaid program to eligible participants and appropriate payments to healthcare providers.  Specifically, this bill, as amended:

(1)  Appropriates $40,000,000 out of the general fund for fiscal year 2009-2010 for health care payments under program ID HMS 401;

(2)  Appropriates $80,000,000 out of federal Medicaid funds for fiscal year 2009-2010 for health care payments under program ID HMS 401 as a federal match for state funds; and

(3)  Takes effect upon its approval.

     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 S.B. No. 1178, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1178, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair