STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1351-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2272

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2272, S.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 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; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities; and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the home health agencies must be licensed at the federal and state level. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses accreditation or certification organizations to survey home health agencies' adherence to federal Medicare Conditions of Participation. Many states use a home health agency's certification by a CMS‑approved accrediting organization to deem the agency in compliance with state or local licensing requirements, which preserves high standards of care while avoiding unnecessary duplication. Your Committee further finds that allowing home health agencies to meet state licensure requirements using their accreditation from a CMS-approved accrediting organization will promote more efficient use of limited state resources while still maintaining high standards of patient care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair