STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1044

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1371

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1371, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allocate a portion of federal funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-5, or other federal stimulus acts to finance increased Medicaid reimbursements, disproportionate share hospital payments, and the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Catholic Charities of Hawaii, Faith Action for Community Equity, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, AARP, and the Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.  Hoola Lahui Hawaii supports this measure with amendments.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services.  Comments on this measure were submitted by the Department of Health and the State Attorney General.

 

     Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committees find that current economic conditions are placing extreme financial burdens on many of the State's health and human services programs.  This measure ensures that these essential programs receive the necessary funding to remain viable in order to protect the health and welfare of Hawaii residents.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Replacing the Department of Health with the Department of Human Services as the expending agency for appropriations for increased Medicaid reimbursements, disproportionate share hospital payments, and the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program;

 

     (2)  Including appropriations for the following programs, services, and purposes:

 

          (A)  Community health centers for the uninsured;

 

          (B)  Respite services;

 

          (C)  Substance abuse treatment;

 

          (D)  Early intervention services;

 

          (E)  Domestic violence services;

 

          (F)  Healthy Start services;

 

          (G)  Hawaii Health Systems Corporation;

 

          (H)  Adult dental services;

 

          (I)  Aging and Disability Resource Center;

 

          (J)  Kupuna care;

 

          (K)  Immigrant Health Initiative program;

 

          (L)  Healthy Aging Partnership;

 

          (M)  Out-stationed eligibility workers;

 

          (N)  Developmental disabilities Medicaid waiver services;

 

          (O)  Mental health services; and

 

          (P)  Medicaid budget to cover the expected increase; and

     (3)  Making a stylistic change for the purpose of clarity.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1371, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1371, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair