STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1170

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 56

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF USING MEDICAID FUNDS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE TREATMENT FOR HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Auditor conduct a study to assess the impact of using Medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment for homelessness.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and Department of Human Services.

     Your Committees find that there is an integral link between health and housing, especially for individuals who are chronically homeless.  Without housing, individuals often struggle to address their health conditions, while people who are unable to address their health challenges often struggle to obtain and retain housing.  Furthermore, the costs to the entire continuum of care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home-based services, for treating the State's homeless population continue to increase.  Your Committees also find that ensuring the availability of quality health care and preventive services can successfully mitigate increased future demand for high cost medical services.  Directing the Auditor to perform an impact assessment study on the use of Medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment for homelessness is the necessary next step in a potentially transformative approach for the treatment for homelessness in Hawaii.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting directive language that requests the Auditor, when conducting the study, to take into consideration certain services to be included under coverage for treatment for homelessness.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 56, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 56, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing,

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair