Bill Text: HI HR75 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Resolution 75

Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Establish A Working Group To Address Issues Relating To Reimbursements And Payments To Home And Community-based Services Providers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-04 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR75 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HR75-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	75
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Requesting the department of human services to establish a working group to address issues relating to reimbursements and payments to home and community-based services providers.

WHEREAS, home and community-based services providers carry out essential and necessary services to the State's elderly and vulnerable populations; and

WHEREAS, a 2022 study conducted by the actuarial firm Milliman of reimbursement rates for home and community-based services found that, for all provider types, current median direct care wages paid by the service providers fell below the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics twenty-fifth percentile for those occupations; and

WHEREAS, adequate reimbursements and payments are crucial to sustain and improve the quality of care provided by home and community-based residential care home facilities; and

WHEREAS, there is a pressing need to identify and implement measure to enhance reimbursement rates for all home and community-based services providers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the Department of Human Services is requested to establish a working group to address issues relating to reimbursements and payments to home and community-based services providers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

(1) The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee who is requested to serve as chair of the working group;

(2) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

(3) The Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, or the Director's designee;

(4) The Director of the Executive Office on Aging, or the Director's designee;

(5) One member of the House Standing Committee on Health and Homelessness, who shall also be a past or present member of the Kupuna Caucus, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(6) One member of the House Standing Committee on Human Services, who shall also be a past or present member of the Kupuna Caucus, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(7) Two members of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, who shall also be past or present members of the Kupuna Caucus, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to invite the following individuals to become members of the working group:

(1) A representative from the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Local 1000;

(2) A representative from AARP Hawaii;

(3) A representative from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

(4) A representative from Providing Healthy Homecare for Hawaii;

(5) A representative from the Oahu Filipino Community Council;

(6) A representative from United Community Healthcare of Hawaii;

(7) A representative from the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii;

(8) A representative from the Alliance of Professional Primary Care Administrators;

(9) A representative from the Association of Residential Care Administrators;

(10) A representative from the Primary Care Providers of Hawaii; and

(11) An individual who owns and operates a community care foster family home; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

(1) Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current reimbursement and payment system for home and community-based services providers;

(2) Identify areas where improvements can be made to better support home and community-based services providers;

(3) Explore strategies to enhance reimbursements and payments to home and community-based services providers, including identifying any necessary policy changes, negotiation strategies, and alternative funding sources; and

(4) Engage with home and community-based services providers, clients, family members, and other relevant stakeholders to gather input and feedback on proposed reimbursement and payment enhancement measures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when conducting its activities, the working group is requested to prioritize equality and fairness in reimbursement and payment distribution to ensure all home and community-based services providers, regardless of size and location, have access to increased funding opportunities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to provide quarterly updates to the Legislature on its progress to stakeholders and the public, to ensure transparency and accountability; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of Human Services; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; Director of the Executive Office on Aging; President of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Local 1000; State Director of AARP Hawaii; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; President of Providing Healthy Homecare for Hawaii; President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council; President of United Community Healthcare of Hawaii; President of the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii; President of the Alliance of Professional Primary Care Administrators; President of the Association of Residential Care Administrators; and President of the Primary Care Providers of Hawaii.