STAND. COM. REP. NO.  511-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2252

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2252, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISCHARGE PLANNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require hospitals to adopt and maintain written discharge policies that include patient designation of a caregiver who may participate in planning for and carrying out after-care following a patient's discharge from a hospital, consistent with recent updates to federal requirements.

The Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Maui County Office on Aging, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, AARP Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and numerous individuals commented on this measure.

     In 2012, Hawaii had the highest percentage of residents over the age of eighty-five in the United States.  This population is projected to grow sixty-five percent in the next twenty years.  Your Committee recognizes that this growth has led to an increase in the number of elderly persons needing care, as well as expanded the role of caregivers.  Besides assisting with routine daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other similar tasks, it is now common for caregivers to perform complex medical and nursing tasks that historically were only provided in hospitals and nursing homes, such as medication management, preparation of special diets, and wound care. 

     Your Committee finds that despite the critical and expanding role of caregivers serving Hawaii's aging population, caregivers are often left out of hospital discussions involving patient care and are expected to perform post hospital care, including medical and nursing tasks, without training or support from professionals.

The dramatic expansion of caregivers' responsibilities and the need for post-hospital care for older adults and others require strong State and community support to help caregivers support their loved ones at home.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2252, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair