STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1126-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2808

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2808 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure the uninterrupted provision of medically necessary services to participants in health care programs and timely payments to contracted health plans by making an emergency appropriation to cover the budget shortfall for health care payments.

     Specifically, this bill appropriates the sum of $11,881,157 in general revenues for fiscal year 2011-2012.

The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Medical Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, ‘Ohana Health Plan, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Papa Ola Lokahi testified in support of this measure.

     Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in Governor's Message No. 197 (2012) to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill, to address the budget shortfall in the Health Care Payments program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2808 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair