CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 155

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1179

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1179, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a statutory framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals at the state level by the Department of Health; and

(2) Provide for the continuation of Medicaid policy protections for hospitals transitioning to a rural emergency hospital designation.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language relating to Medicaid payments to rural emergency hospitals, including payment for telehealth services and payments made out of state matching funds as part of the federal Medical Rural Hospital Flexibility Program;

(2) Changing its effective date to upon approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1179, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1179, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair	____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair
____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair	____________________________ CORY CHUN Co-Chair
____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair	____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair