Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Convene A Task Force To Increase Community Care Foster Family Home Accessibility For Private-pay Individuals.
H.R. 105 is a House Resolution that asks the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) to convene a task force to study ways to make community care foster family homes more accessible to private-pay individuals. The resolution focuses on the current statutory framework in section 321-481, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which generally allows only one private-pay resident in a community care foster family home, with limited exceptions for married or civil union couples. The measure seeks recommendations for a faster application process for married or civil union private-pay couples and for expanding access so that two unrelated private-pay individuals could live together in the same home.
The resolution also directs DHS to publish annual website statistics on applications by married and civil union private-pay couples seeking to reside together in these homes, including the outcomes of those applications. It further requests DHS administrative support for the task force and requires the task force to report findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature before the 2027 Regular Session. The task force would include DHS and Department of Health leadership, the Med-QUEST Division Administrator, and representatives from adult residential care home organizations, home health care operators, and case management agencies.
The bill’s practical impact is limited because it is a resolution requesting study and recommendations rather than directly changing law. However, it signals possible future amendments to section 321-481, HRS, and could lead to changes in licensing or eligibility rules for community care foster family homes. If adopted in later legislation, those changes could broaden housing options for some private-pay seniors and couples while potentially affecting the availability of placements for Medicaid recipients.
Overall sentiment appears cautious but generally supportive of exploring the issue. The resolution acknowledges a real access problem for aging residents and couples who want to remain together, while also recognizing a possible tradeoff: allowing more private-pay residents could reduce space available for Medicaid clients. Because no committee transcripts or votes are provided, there is no recorded opposition or formal support in the available materials, but the text itself frames the issue as one requiring stakeholder input and policy balancing.
The main point of contention is the balance between expanding private-pay access and preserving capacity for Medicaid-funded residents. Supporters of the resolution are likely to emphasize family unity, housing flexibility, and improved access for Hawaii’s aging population. Potential critics may worry that loosening the rules could shift scarce community care foster family home slots away from Medicaid recipients or complicate the existing care system.
H.R. 105 does not directly amend Hawaii law, but it targets section 321-481, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for possible future revision by directing DHS to study the issue and recommend legislation. It would require DHS to convene a task force, collect and publish application statistics, and report back to the Legislature, potentially laying the groundwork for changes to licensing, occupancy, and eligibility rules for community care foster family homes. The affected parties include private-pay seniors and couples, Medicaid recipients, DHS and Med-QUEST, and providers of adult residential care, home health care, and case management services.
The available text suggests a generally favorable but measured sentiment. The resolution is framed as a response to a real access problem for older residents and couples who want to live together, and it seeks a collaborative study rather than an immediate policy change. At the same time, the bill explicitly acknowledges that expanding private-pay access could reduce available care for Medicaid recipients, indicating that the proposal is intended to be evaluated carefully rather than adopted without further review. No votes or committee testimony are provided, so there is no documented formal opposition or support beyond the resolution’s own balancing language.
The central contention is whether Hawaii should relax the rule limiting community care foster family homes to one private-pay client, except for married or civil union couples, so that two unrelated private-pay individuals can share a home. Advocates for change are likely to focus on accessibility for aging residents and the practical difficulty of keeping non-married partners together in long-term care. Opponents or cautious stakeholders may argue that increasing private-pay occupancy could displace Medicaid recipients or strain a limited care system. The task force composition reflects this tension by including state agencies and provider representatives who would be expected to weigh access, capacity, and program impacts.