STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3300

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2062

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow persons eligible to receive Medicaid funds for care at nursing home facilities to remain at home and receive home- and community-based long-term care.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Department of Human Services to transfer Medicaid funds intended for payment to a nursing facility or long-term care-based facility for payment for home- or community-based long-term care, support, and services.  However, this measure also provides that the costs for home- and community-based services may not exceed, on an average per capita basis, the total expenditures that would have been incurred if the individual received facility-based long-term care, services, or support.  The Department of Human Services is also required to apply for all waivers and grants necessary to implement this measure.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc., Filipino American Citizens League, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Filipino Coalition of Solidarity, Philippine Nurses Association, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Coalition of Caregivers, Adult Foster Home Association, Hawaii Coalition of Caregivers, Big Island Chapter, and three individuals.  The Department of Human Services and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making clarifying technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and

consistency.

     Your Committee finds that, should the Department succeed in obtaining all necessary waivers from the federal government, scarce Medicaid funds intended to pay for institutional care can be put to more efficient use by paying for home- and community-based long-term care services for those individuals who choose to remain in the community or relocate from a more expensive nursing facility environment.

     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. 2062, 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. 2062, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair