STAND. COM. REP. NO. 757

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 308

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 308 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 preserve access to health care for Medicaid recipients.

 

     More specifically, this Act:

 

     (1)  Provides an annual inflationary adjustment in the methodology used to reimburse facilities for the long-term care of Medicaid recipients beginning with fiscal year 2017-2018; and

 

     (2)  Appropriates funds to provide an inflationary adjustment to long-term care facilities' provider-specific prospective payment rates for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hale Makua Health Services, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health, Legacy of Life Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, Ohana Pacific Management Company, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that there has not been an inflationary adjustment for Medicaid payments since fiscal year 2007-2008.  Your Committee further finds that the inflationary adjustment provided by this measure will help economically stabilize the long-term care system in the State, allowing facilities to invest in needed maintenance and retain experienced staff.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that it intends to consider including this appropriation in the General Appropriations Act of 2017.

 

     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. 308, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 308, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair