STAND. COM. REP. NO. 144-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2712

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. 2712 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to increase funding for the Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST Division reimbursement for applied behavioral analysis services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Disability and Communication Access Board; Kuhn Behavioral Consulting Services; Council of Autism Service Providers; Positive Behavior Supports Corporation; Autism Behavior Consulting Group Hawaii; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Pakolea Support Services; Behavior Analysis No Ka Oi, Inc.; Easterseals Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Association for Behavior Analysis; BAYADA; Sharky Hearts Behavior Support Services LLC; Malama Pono Autism Center; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that applied behavioral analysis is a medically necessary service for young people with autism. Your Committee further finds that Med-QUEST reimbursement rates for applied behavioral analysis have not increased since 2015. Appropriate reimbursement rates are critical to establishing adequate provider networks, as this ensures that providers are able to deliver comprehensive and individualized applied behavioral analysis services and incentivize more qualified professionals to enter the field, ultimately expanding the capacity to meet the growing demand for these services. Your Committee further finds that increasing the funding for Medicaid reimbursement rates applied behavioral analysis services will ensure that persons with autism have access to the best possible care and support.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation of $2,690,000, which will be matched by a corresponding $3,810,000 increase in federal funds. Your Committee notes that this amount is a conservative estimate as it is the lowest-rate scenario from the rate study for applied behavioral analysis services commissioned by the Department.

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. 2712, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2712, 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