STAND. COM. REP. NO. 819

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1237

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1237, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend the operation of the Nursing Facility Sustainability Program.

 

Specifically, the measure amends Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, relating to the Nursing Facility Sustainability Program, by:

 

(1)  Extending the repeal date of the Act to June 30, 2014;

 

(2)  Appropriating funds for the program for fiscal year 2013-2014; and

 

(3)  Making clarifying changes to the text of the Act.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hale Makua Long-Term Care, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hale Makua Health Services, Pearl City Nursing Home, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that extending Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, will enable the Department of Human Services to continue to make supplemental payments to nursing facilities to assist them with offsetting their costs of uncompensated care.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Making clarifying amendments by repealing an unnecessary definition in Act 156; and

 

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1237, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1237, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair