STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1676

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    H.B. No. 311

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 311, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the administration of the nursing facility sustainability program.

 

     More specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Extends the nursing facility sustainability program through June 30, 2024;

 

     (2)  Extends from thirty days to sixty days the period after the end of each month by which payment of the nursing facility sustainability fee is due;

 

     (3)  Establishes that the nursing facility sustainability fee limit is 5.5 percent of overall net patient service revenue;

 

     (4)  Repeals the $20 per resident daily fee limit;

 

     (5)  Permits certain facilities to pay a reduced daily fee in comparison to other participating facilities; and

 

     (6)  Appropriates moneys from the nursing facility sustainability program special fund.

 

     Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and The Queen's Health Systems.

 

     Your Committees find that the nursing facility sustainability program has assisted the State in strengthening its long-term care system in Hawaii.  Your Committees recognize that nursing facilities face many challenges due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  Your Committees also find that provider fees, which are collected from specific categories of health care providers, may be imposed on different classes of health care services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital and nursing facility services.  Accordingly, your Committees find that action must be taken to ensure that nursing facilities in the State have the means to continue to serve Medicaid recipients and under-insured or uninsured patients.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 311, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 311, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair