STAND. COM. REP. NO. 357

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 397

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. 397, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL MEDICAID SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to increase Medicaid payments to eligible health care professionals by up to one hundred percent of the current Medicare rates.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Department of Human Services, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Pacific Health, AARP Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii Dental Service, American Physical Therapy Association of Hawaii, Big Island Docs, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Care Choices, Hawaii Medical Service Association, AlohaCare, Dr. Smith Family Medicine, The Queen's Health System, Hawaii Medical Association, Hilo Medical Center, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that providing Medicaid payments at one hundred percent of the Medicare rate will help the State recruit and retain health care providers, improve patients' access to care, and offer valuable training opportunities for medical students and residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount from $30,000,000 to an unspecified sum; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes 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. 397, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 397, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair