STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3011

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2252

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2252, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that:

     (1)  Families are supported by ensuring that all patients in an inpatient hospital have the opportunity to designate a caregiver who shall be notified prior to the discharge or transfer of the patient;

     (2)  The patient and the designated caregiver are involved in the discharge planning process; and

     (3)  The patient and caregiver are provided a consistent level of instructional support, both written and oral, prior to discharge to facilitate the patient's transition to the home setting regardless of which facility the patient is in.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Agency on Elderly Affairs; Hawaii Government Employees Association, Local 152; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; The Queen's Health Systems; AARP Hawaii; Project Dana; ILWU Local 142; Faith Action for Community Equity; and fifteen individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's population of older adults continues to increase.  In 2012, Hawaii had the highest percentage of residents over the age of eighty-five in the United States, and this population is projected to grow to sixty-five percent over the next twenty years.  These individuals are the most likely to need long-term supports and services and will likely rely on family and friends as their caregivers due to financial and resource constraints.

     Your Committees further find that while strong home- and community-based resources, such as respite, non-medical transportation services, and home-delivered meals, are important to help caregivers and their loved ones, medical supports are also important.  Coordination among primary care providers along with preventive care will enable many seniors and other individuals with chronic or debilitating conditions to stay in their homes longer.  However, in the event of an acute episode, hospitals must provide assistance to patients and their caregivers in order to prepare them for discharge and help them transition back to their homes.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the contents of Senate Bill No. 2397, S.D. 1 (Regular Session of 2016), a substantively similar measure, thereby amending this measure by:

     (1)  Amending findings to emphasize Hawaii's increase of older adults in the population, the importance of hospitals assisting patients and their caregivers with transitioning back to a home setting, and the responsibilities that hospitals have related to discharge planning and transitions of care;

     (2)  Clarifying that discharge policies must include a federal or nationally recognized standards; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2017.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2252, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2252, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair