Bill
GM 1293
Hawaii funds a $250,000 study by DHS to review Medicaid home health rates, effective July 1, 2025, to inform rate decisions that improve access and workforce stability.
GM1293 — Summary of ACT 193 (HB713, CD1, SD1)
Overview
- Purpose: Inform the Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed HB713, CD1, SD1 into law as Act 193, relating to a rate study for Medicaid home health services.
- Enacted as: Act 193, 2025 Hawaii Session
- Classification/status: Proclamation accompanying enacted bill; GM1293 status: Received
What the bill does
- Establishes a state-funded study of Medicaid home health service rates in Hawaii.
- Creates a dedicated appropriation for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct the rate study.
- Sets an effective date for the Act and outlines the scope and purpose of the study to inform future policy decisions.
Key provisions
- Section 2 — Appropriation:
- Out of Hawaii’s general revenues, the State appropriates $250,000 (or as much as necessary) for fiscal year 2025-2026.
- Purpose: To conduct a rate study on Medicaid home health services in the State.
- Administration: The appropriation must be expended by the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the purposes of the Act.
- Section 3 — Effective date:
- The Act takes effect on July 1, 2025.
- Definitions/background (as described in the bill’s findings):
- Home health services include skilled therapies (physical, occupational, speech), wound care, and management of complex chronic conditions, delivered to homebound individuals who do not require hospitalization.
- Reimbursement declines from Medicare and Medicaid have reduced access to care for beneficiaries.
- Hawaii-specific context cites Medicare/Medicaid-related funding reductions, financial losses per Medicaid patient, and high workforce vacancy rates in home health.
Who is affected
- Medicaid home health service providers in Hawaii (e.g., home health agencies, clinicians delivering skilled services and related care).
- Department of Human Services, which will administer and oversee the rate study.
- Medicaid recipients in Hawaii who rely on home health services, through the potential outcomes of future rate adjustments informed by the study.
Implications and timeline
- Purpose: To ground informed decision-making on Medicaid home health payment rates, potentially guiding future rate adjustments to improve access and workforce stability.
- Timeline:
- July 1, 2025: Act takes effect.
- FY 2025-2026: $250,000 general fund appropriation available to DHS to conduct the rate study.
- Outcome: The study results could inform subsequent policy changes or rate adjustments, though the Act itself does not mandate specific rate changes.
Background/context
- The bill was introduced as HB713 and ultimately enacted as Act 193. It responds to concerns about declining reimbursements, access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries, and high vacancy rates in the Hawaii home health workforce.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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