STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1002-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2057

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2057, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend and improve the Nursing Facility Sustainability Program, which uses provider fees as matching funds to qualify for increased federal Medicaid provider reimbursement rates, by:

(1)  Continuing the Program for an additional year;

(2)  Exempting the Nursing Facility Sustainability Program Special Fund from the central services expenses assessment; and

(2)  Appropriating funds from the Special Fund as necessary matching funds for increased federal Medicaid funding for fiscal year 2014-2015.

The Department of Human Services, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation provided testimony in support of this measure.

     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. 2057, S.D. 2, 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,

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair