STAND. COM. REP. NO. 132

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 474

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 474 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to preserve access to health care for Medicaid recipients by extending the hospital sustainability program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Adventist Health Castle, and Hawaii Pacific Health.

Your Committee finds that the hospital sustainability program, which was established in 2012, has served a critical role in strengthening the health care system in Hawaii. Your Committee believes that continuing the program will ensure that the State's uninsured or underinsured patients continue to receive care in a timely, effective manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 474, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 474, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair