STAND. COM. REP. NO.  753-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1812

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist individuals who lack capacity but may be eligible for Medicaid health coverage by authorizing health care surrogates to serve as a patient's authorized representative in the Medicaid application and eligibility process.

 

     Aloha Nursing Rehab Centre, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, and three individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii offered comments for this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Amending the language of the purpose section for accuracy;

 

(2)  Making housekeeping and conforming amendments to statutory language regarding the appointment and decision-making authority of a surrogate;

 

(3)  Specifying the duties of the surrogate when acting as a patient's Medicaid authorized representative and providing for termination of that status; and

 

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 3.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair