STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2115-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2272

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2272, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME HEALTH LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health to accept accreditation or certification from an accreditation or certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as demonstration that a licensed home health agency is in compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities; State Health Planning and Development Agency; and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that home health agencies play a critical role in providing accessible and high-quality health care services to individuals in their homes. Your Committee further finds that allowing the Department of Health to rely on accreditation or certification by organizations approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to demonstrate compliance with state licensing inspection requirements reduces duplicative regulatory processes while maintaining established standards of care and oversight. Your Committee also finds that making survey reports and accreditation or certification information publicly available promotes transparency and accountability.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that a home health agency is required to provide the Department of Health with any updated official accreditation or certification reports.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2272, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2272, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair