STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2060

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 

 

RE:     H.B. No. 1449

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1449, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to preserve access to healthcare for Medicaid recipients.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Extends the nursing facility sustainability program to 2021;

 

     (2)  Allows the nursing facility sustainability fee to be used to enhance capitated rates for the purpose of paying quality incentives;

 

     (3)  Increases the nursing facility sustainability fee limit from 4.0 to 5.5 percent of net patient service revenue;

 

     (4)  Increases the per resident daily maximum fee from $13.46 to $20.00 for each facility, and increases the per resident reduced daily maximum fee from $5.85 to $9.00 for facilities that meet certain exceptions; and

 

     (5)  Appropriates funds out of the nursing facility sustainability program special fund for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Aloha Nursing Rehab Centre, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that, since its inception in 2012, the nursing facility sustainability program has helped long-term care facilities treat the most vulnerable patients in the State.  Your Committee further finds that the program has helped to ensure that patients, especially those with low incomes, are able to access quality, affordable care.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to:

 

     (1)  July 1, 2050, for sections 7 and 8; and

 

     (2)  June 29, 2050, for the remainder of the measure,

 

to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1449, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1449, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair