HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE

INTERIM OF 2011

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Rep. John M. Mizuno, Chair

Rep. Jo Jordan, Vice Chair

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

DATE:	Thursday, January 12, 2012
TIME:	11:00 a.m.
PLACE:	Conference Room 329 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

The purpose of this informational briefing is to discuss the current oversight of Community Ties of America, contracted through the Department of Human Services, which has purview over Community Care Foster Family Homes, Case Managers, and Adult Day Care Centers.  The briefing will focus on concerns and suggestions to improve oversight of the Case Management agencies and Community Care Foster Family Home industry under CTA.

The briefing will also focus on Ohana Health plan and Evercare Health plan.  Discussion will be centered on concerns and suggestions to improve these health plans, on topic such as, but not limited to late payments, non-payments, payment dispute resolution, non-emergency transportation services, and overall review of the health plans.

Discussion on payments to all service providers, such as but not limited to Community Care Foster Family Homes and Adult Residential Care Homes, which have contracts under Ohana Health, Evercare Health plans, or the Department of Human Services will also be discussed at the briefing.

Finally, review of the referral system for patients being transferred from hospitals to either a Community Care Foster Family Home, Adult Residential Care Home, Expanded Care Home, or Nursing Home, will be discussed, with recommended solutions for a better referral system being noted to adequately address the hospitals' deficit of between $70 to $100 million annually for failure to properly transfer patients no longer requiring "acute care" to a proper community based care home or nursing home and improving fairness and timely transfer of patients to suitable community care homes or nursing homes.

At the conclusion of the briefing, the chair will summarize the suggested solutions ascertained from this briefing and review proposed policy changes, proposed bills and resolutions to better address the service providers under CTA, Ohana Health and Evercare.

The following organizations or individuals have been invited to participate:

The State Department of Human Services

Healthcare Association of Hawaii

Ohana Health Plan

Evercare Health Plan

Community Ties of America

Hawaii Social Worker Organizations & Social Workers (under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare)

Physicians (under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare)

Any service provider under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare

Community Case Management representatives

Alliance of Residential Care Administrators (under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare)

The Primary Care Providers of Hawaii

Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii

Foster Homes of the Pacific

United Group of Home Operators (under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare)

Non-Emergency Transport Services under contract with DHS

Neighbor Island - Community Care Foster Family Home Associations &

Adult Residential Care Home Associations (under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare)

Other individuals or organizations related to caregivers, case managers, care home operators and adult foster home operators with Medicaid clients and/or under contract with Ohana Health or Evercare Health plans.

ONLY TESTIMONY FROM THOSE ON THE TESTIFIER LIST WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Persons on the testifiers list wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

·    Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·    The Committee the comments are directed to;

·    The date and time of the hearing or briefing;

·    Measure number if applicable; and

·    The number of copies the Committee is requesting. 

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing/briefing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER: One copy (including an original) to Room 315 in the State Capitol;

FAX:     For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-8524 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islands); or

EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to HUStestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov.

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns.  This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

For further information, please call the Committee Clerk at 586-6050.

No public testimony will be accepted.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the informational briefing (i.e., sign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6050 to make a request for arrangements at least 24 hours prior to the briefing.  Prompt requests help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

For further information, please call the Committee Clerk at 586-6050.

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Rep. John M. Mizuno

Chair

APPROVED

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Rep. Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker of the House