STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1222

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 705

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 705, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a temporary Medi-Medi Project within the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program to be administered by the Executive Office on Aging to assist older adults, Medicare beneficiaries, individuals with disabilities, and other underserved populations who may qualify for various low-income subsidy programs to gain access to their benefits;

(2) Require the Executive Office on Aging to submit reports to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, State Health Planning and Development Agency, AARP Hawaiʻi, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that low-income subsidy programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicare savings programs, such as Medicare part D extra help, can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for individuals with limited income by covering or offsetting their medical and prescription drug costs. Your Committee further finds that although many individuals may qualify for these programs, they may have no or limited access to the benefits, as they may not be aware of or need assistance with the application or eligibility renewal process. Your Committee notes that the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program, administered by the Executive Office on Aging of the Department of Health, provides free information and one-on-one counseling on the Medicare program and has been increasingly receiving referrals for those in need of assistance finding health care coverage. Accordingly, this measure's Medi-Medi Project increases access to trained help with eligibility and enrollment for various low-income subsidy programs, ensuring applications get submitted properly and timely so that qualified individuals can receive benefits.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the Medi-Medi Project to provide any other service it deems necessary for the underserved populations in the State to gain access to benefits under various low-income subsidy programs;

(2) Clarifying that the Medi-Medi Project shall streamline the application process for various low-income subsidy programs;

(3) Inserting language to require the Medi-Medi Project to provide referrals and assistance to other low-income programs;

(4) Deleting language that would have required the Medi-Medi Project to cease to exist on an unspecified date;

(5) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 705, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 705, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair