STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3892

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 18

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 18 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A HOSPICE WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE TRENDS AND REGULATIONS IN THE HOSPICE INDUSTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene a Hospice Working Group to examine trends and regulations in the hospice industry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Navian Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that hospice is a form of health care for individuals with a terminal illness, typically with a prognosis of six months or less to live, focusing on comfort, pain relief, and quality of life. Your Committee further finds that the State has a limited number of hospices, with the Office of Health Care Assurance showing thirteen hospices in the State. This measure convenes stakeholders in the health care industry to examine the national and local trends of the hospice industry and better enable the State to prepare for the needs of its aging population.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to request the chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees with jurisdiction over health, or their designees, to participate in and serve as co-chairs of the Hospice Working Group;

(2) Deleting language that would have specified that the members of the working group from hospices in the State be from hospices in operation before the year 2000; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 18, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 18, S.D. 1.

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

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair