STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1326

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.R. No. 93

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 93 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE HEALTH CARE FINANCING ADMINISTRATION TO ADJUST HAWAII'S AEROMEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES BY PROVIDING FOR IMMEDIATE PHASE-IN OF THE PROPOSED MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to adjust Hawaii's aeromedical reimbursement rates by providing specific relief to Hawaii by providing immediate phase-in of the proposed Medicare fee schedule.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health and Hawaii Air Ambulance.

Your Committee finds that there is an estimated 1800 instances in which interisland aeromedical transportation is required. Your Committee further finds that out of the 1800, approximately 450 of those transpositions are for Medicare qualified patients. Thus, your Committee finds that it makes sense to maximize revenue flow so that neighbor island patients can continue receiving these services from Hawaii's one aeromedical transportation company.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 93 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair