HB551 would increase the maximum state supplemental payment rates for certain domiciliary care settings in Hawaii. Specifically, it raises the payment ceiling for adult residential care homes classified as facility type I, licensed developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, and certified adult foster homes from $784 to $1,440, and raises the ceiling for facility type II adult residential care homes from $892 to $1,530.
The bill applies to recipients eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income or public assistance, and it leaves in place the Department of Human Services’ authority to set rates and to move a recipient if the operator is not providing care consistent with the person’s needs. It also preserves existing protections limiting removal of a resident who wants to stay and whose operator agrees, except when a higher level of care is needed or domiciliary care is no longer required.
Impact
HB551 would amend section 346-53 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, directly changing the statutory caps on state supplemental payments for specified care-home and foster-home settings. The practical effect would be to increase the amount the state may pay for eligible residents in adult residential care homes, developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, certified adult foster homes, and related facilities, potentially increasing state spending and provider reimbursement levels.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was introduced as a support measure for care-home providers and residents, with its stated purpose focused on increasing payment ceilings. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided material, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the record supplied. The bill was referred to HSH and FIN, indicating it was still in the committee process at the time of the last action.
Contention
The main policy issue likely concerns the cost of raising state supplemental payment limits versus the need to support care-home operators and maintain access to residential care services. Potential supporters would include adult residential care homes, developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, certified adult foster homes, residents, and advocates for adequate care funding. Potential concerns would likely come from budget-focused lawmakers or agencies worried about the fiscal impact on the state general fund and whether the higher caps are sufficient or appropriately targeted.