STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1585-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 149

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.R. No. 149 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ADOPTION OF A STATE POLICY ASSURING THAT SAVINGS REALIZED BY THE STATE THROUGH THE EXTENSION OF FEDERAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PERCENTAGE PAYMENTS OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IS USED TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES EXPERIENCED BY HAWAIIAN COMMUNITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the adoption of a state policy assuring that savings realized by the State through the extension of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage payments of one hundred percent for Native Hawaiian health care systems is used to address health disparities experienced by Native Hawaiian communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Waimanalo Health Center and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that Native Hawaiians suffer from disproportionate higher rates of chronic diseases and thus higher mortality rates than the general population in Hawaii. As a result, systemic changes in Native Hawaiian health care are necessary to address the health disparities of the Native Hawaiian population. Under Section 9815 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the federal government will pay one hundred percent of the cost of Medicaid services provided at Native Hawaiian Health Centers for sixteen fiscal quarters.

Your Committee recognizes that continued federal support beyond the time frame originally provided in the American Rescue Plan Act is not certain. However, it is important that any savings realized by the State associated with increased federal support for Native Hawaiian health under the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage recalculation be used to further address health disparities experienced by Native Hawaiian communities. This resolution seeks to assure this goal.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making a technical amendment to its title; 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 149, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 149, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair