STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3648

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 141

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 141 entitled:

"SENATE 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,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 Hawaiian communities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hāmākua-Kohala Health, Waimānalo Health Center, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Papa Ola Lōkahi.

Your Committees find that Papa Ola Lōkahi is a Hawaii nonprofit corporation concerned with improving Native Hawaiian cultural, physical, mental, and spiritual health. They work with AHARO Hawaii which is a Hawaii nonprofit corporation and a consortium of other Hawaii nonprofit corporations which are federally qualified community health centers that contribute to the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians. There are currently disparities in health care experienced by Native Hawaiians, and AHARO has been designated to receive funds from the American Rescue Plan Act which will pay one hundred percent of the cost of Medicaid services provided at Native Hawaiian Health Centers. This measure requests executive departments to review their policies and ensure that AHARO can provide proper care and the funds are used to address Hawaiian health disparities.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the federal government will pay one hundred percent of Medicaid services at Native Hawaiian Health Centers for eight fiscal quarters, under the American Rescue Plan Act; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 141, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 141, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair