STAND. COM. REP. NO. 76-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2539

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2539 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase funding of Medicaid in-home services; and

(2) Require the Department of Human Services to obtain maximum federal matching funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; AARP; and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that most Hawaii residents would prefer to age in their homes. However, caring for a person who is frail and dependent can be challenging and overwhelming for family caregivers without additional help. In-home service providers who assist family caregivers can mean the difference between an individual remaining at home versus being placed in an institutional facility. Your Committee further finds that increasing the funding for Medicaid in-home services will ensure that in-home service providers can continue to offer care and support to the State's elderly and disabled.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the requirement for the Department of Human Services to pursue all funding sources, including private grants, as federal Medicaid rules prohibit most private grants as a funding source for certain Medicaid services;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $9,860,000. Your Committee notes that this amount would generate a federal funds match of approximately $13,940,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2539, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2539, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair