HI HB2131

Allow community care foster family homes to remain open for at least six additional months after losing their only Medicaid patient if a licensed physician certifies that removal of the remaining private-pay client could cause transfer trauma.

Reduce the mandatory minimum age for a substitute caregiver from 21 years old to 18 years old.

Set the effective date of the measure to July 1, 2050, to allow for further discussion and policy development.

Department of Human Services indicated no closures of community care foster family homes have occurred due to lack of Medicaid patients and committed to developing better policy with stakeholders to keep homes open as community resources.

Supported by Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii, and The Primary Care Providers; opposed by the Department of Human Services.