STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1543-12

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 Finance, 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 make an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to address the funding shortfall in Med-QUEST health care programs as a result of an intradepartmental transfer of funds in fiscal year 2011-2012 and increase in Medicaid enrollment.

Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in Governor's Message No. 197 to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of S.B. No. 2808, Making an Emergency Appropriation to the Department of Human Services for Health Care Payments, by the Legislature, citing the need for general funds to address the budget shortfall in the Health Care Payments Program (HMS 401).

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

     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. 2808 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair