STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1182

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1292

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1292 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR HEALTH CARE PAYMENTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the uninterrupted provision of medically necessary services to low-income adults and children by making an emergency appropriation to cover the budget shortfall for health care payments and to prevent the loss of federal funds.  Specifically, this bill appropriates for fiscal year 2010-2011:

     (1)  $57,500,000 in general revenues; and

     (2)  $96,400,000 in federal Medicaid funds as a federal match.

     Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in Governor's Message No. 101 to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill by the Legislature to address the budget shortfall.

     The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Medical Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, AlohaCare, ‘Ohana Health Plan, and Helping Hands Hawaii testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 1292, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1292, H.D. 1, 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