STAND. COM. REP. NO. 956

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1179

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1179, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Provide a statutory framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals 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 received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board of Directors; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Maui Health System; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1179, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair