STAND. COM. REP. NO. 963

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 820

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 820 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 ensure the continued viability of nursing facilities in the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Extends the nursing facility sustainability program;

(2) Removes the statutory cap on the per resident daily fee for each nursing facility; and

(3) Provides that nursing facilities that meet certain criteria shall pay a reduced daily fee compared to other facilities.

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

Your Committees find that extending the nursing facility sustainability program will help to financially sustain the State's nursing facilities, which continue to face major challenges due in part to the health and financial pressures related to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Allowing nursing facilities to pay fees assessed under the nursing facility sustainability program within sixty days, instead of thirty days;

(2) Correcting the text of section 7 of Act 124, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, as amended, to accurately reflect the printed version of the Session Laws of Hawaii;

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

(4) 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 S.B. No. 820, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 820, S.D. 1.

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