STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1546

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 13

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 13 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY OF VARIOUS UNRESOLVED ISSUES RELATING TO AGING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request a study of various unresolved issues relating to aging.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Executive Office on Aging.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that further efforts are needed to assist caregivers and adequately meet the needs of the State's aging population.  The Executive Office on Aging and the Center on Aging at the University of Hawaii at Manoa need to continue their examination of these issues by continuing their research and analyses to:

 

     (1)  Develop a cash and counseling model, which allows participants to use their Medicaid-provided personal assistance budgets to hire their own personal care aides, and to apply for related grants;

 

     (2)  Determine how best to compensate caregivers for respite services;

 

     (3)  Determine best practices for state agencies to collaborate and coordinate with area agencies on aging and local community service providers (including those for the disabled community);

 

     (4)  Enhance funding from all sources for Medicaid and Medicare services, including but not limited to, removing or adjusting income limits and non-exempt asset limitations;

 

     (5)  Determine how best to accommodate language barriers;

 

     (6)  Determine how best to overcome access to long-term care services barriers; and

 

     (7)  Identify more funding sources for long-term care services.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 13, and recommends its adoption.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair