Bill Text: HI SB2346 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Aging; Long-term Care Education; Appropriations; Majority Package ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-07-03 - Act 151, 6/30/2014 (Gov. Msg. No. 1254). [SB2346 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB2346-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2346
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AGING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's aging population, similar to the rest of the United States, is rapidly increasing as more and more residents born during the baby-boom era of 1946-1964 turn sixty years of age.  Between 1980 and 2010, the number of adults in Hawaii over the age of sixty grew by 139.8 per cent, eclipsing the growth of the general population, which increased by 34.2 per cent during the same period.  The increase in the number of adults in Hawaii over the age of eighty-five during this period is even more extreme at 431.5 per cent.  In addition, it is projected that Hawaii's adult population over the age of sixty will comprise 29.7 per cent of the total population by 2035.

     This significant increase in Hawaii's elder population and the concomitant increase in demand for services, particularly those that allow for aging in place, will require an ongoing commitment to ensure that Hawaii's kupuna are adequately cared for.

     The legislature finds that the kupuna care program was enacted in 1999 to help "frail and vulnerable older persons in leading independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and communities."  One of the principles of the program is that long-term care should be available to everyone, regardless of government or private insurance coverage or eligibility for other assistance programs.

     The legislature further finds that the kupuna care program was created to provide key services and support for all older persons in the State, without regard to medicaid eligibility or receipt and without regard to eligibility for supportive and nutrition services under Title III of the federal Older Americans Act.  Access to the kupuna care program for all seniors is necessary to maintain a consistent continuum of care for vulnerable older persons, particularly as individuals' access to resources, support systems, and capacity change over time.  The most successful programs for aging-in-place recognize and build upon integrated health and social services.

     The purpose of this part is to provide funding to support community-based programs that incorporate collaborations among health care and social service agencies to provide services necessary for the health and well-being of Hawaii's kupuna.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the kupuna care program; provided that the sum appropriated shall be in addition to the base budget of the executive office on aging.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,900,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the aging and disability resource center.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $476,772 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the healthy aging partnership program of the department of health's executive office on aging.

     SECTION 5.  The sums appropriated in sections 2, 3, and 4 shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.

PART II

     SECTION 6.  The legislature finds that more of Hawaii's elderly population is living with multiple, chronic health conditions.  This, combined with the fact that this population is growing at a steady rate, indicates an increased need for long-term care in the State.

     The legislature further finds that many people in Hawaii are not familiar with long-term care issues and that popularly circulated information may, in fact, be incorrect.  For example, although long-term care is not covered by medicare or regular private health insurance, a 2011 survey of Hawaii members of the Association of American Retired Persons found that twenty-nine per cent of respondents said they expected medicare to pay for their long-term care, if needed.

     Hawaii residents require basic information about long-term care, including the different types of long-term care and long-term care providers, the statistical risk of requiring long-term care, and the associated costs, to be motivated to provide for their own or family members' long-term care needs.  The legislature finds that a long-term care education and awareness campaign will help provide this information to better prepare Hawaii residents to plan for future long-term care needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to require the executive office on aging to conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care and to appropriate funds to administer and evaluate the program.

     SECTION 7.  (a)  The department of health's executive office on aging shall conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care.  Campaign goals shall include:

     (1)  Informing the public of the likelihood of needing long-term care;

     (2)  Educating the public on maximizing the length of time independent living is possible and the risks presented by a lack of planning for long-term care needs;

     (3)  Educating the public about the costs of long-term care, including information about:

         (A)  Long-term care not being covered by medicare or regular private health insurance;

         (B)  The limits of medicaid eligibility and benefits; and

         (C)  The value and availability of current financing and delivery options to obtain long-term care; and

     (4)  Providing the public with resources to navigate the complexities of planning for long-term care and informing the public of the agencies that provide such services.

     (b)  The executive office on aging may develop public-private partnerships to fund and administer the campaign and may invite broad participation from multiple interested stakeholders in the State.

     (c)  The director of the executive office on aging shall obtain an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the campaign.

     (d)  The director of the executive office on aging shall submit a report to the legislature, including the independent evaluation's findings and recommendations on the status of the campaign, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

     SECTION 8.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the executive office on aging to conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care and to obtain an independent evaluation of the campaign's effectiveness.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.

PART III

     SECTION 9.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

Report Title:

Aging; Long-term Care Education; Appropriations; Majority Package

 

Description:

Appropriates general funds to the Department of Health for community-based services and programs for older persons.  Requires the Department of Health Executive Office on Aging to conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care and appropriates funds for this purpose.  (CD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.