STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1040

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1474

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1474, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve access to and the quality of long-term care services in the State.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to the Department of Human Services for the achievement of full funding of Medicaid home- and community-based services.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, AARP Hawaii, The Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, ILWU Local 1000, Evergreen Adult Day Care, and five individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that Medicaid home- and community-based services provide critical services to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Your Committee further finds that investing in these home- and community-based services will improve access to those services for seniors and individuals with disabilities, while also providing fair wages and career advancement opportunities for the workers who care for them.

Your Committee has 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 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. 1474, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1474, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair