STAND. COM. REP. NO.  604-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2157

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2157, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXPANDED ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is allow Type I Expanded Adult Residential Care Homes (Expanded ARCHs) to take in more nursing facility level residents without seeking the approval of the Department of Human Services by increasing the statutory cap on the number of these residents from two to three.

 

     The Alliance of Residential Care Administrators testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health (DOH) and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Healthcare Association of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Hawaii's aging population is growing at a fast pace and is only expected to increase in size due to longevity and the soon to be retiring Baby Boomer generation.  This will create a greater need for beds in care facilities in the near future which this measure attempts to address.

 

     However, your Committee does have some concerns as to the effects the expansion of the capacity of Expanded ARCHs from two to three skilled nursing level residents will have on the patient population.  Specifically, your Committee is concerned with whether or not Expanded ARCHs can properly staff their facilities with adequate and qualified personnel to care for the additional skilled nursing level resident and whether DOH will have the ability to properly enforce rules regarding Expanded ARCHs with the increase in patient capacity.  Nevertheless, this measure deserves further consideration.

 

     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. 2157, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair