S.B. 1240 Summary

• Amends Section 321-14.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes to exempt service provider agencies from state home care licensing requirements when providing services exclusively to Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver participants.

• Expands existing exemption for agencies under contract with the City and County of Honolulu elderly affairs division to include agencies approved by the Department of Human Services Med-QUEST division.

• Allows HCBS waiver provider agencies to operate without state nursing certification requirements while remaining subject to federal CMS oversight, monitoring by the developmental disabilities division, and waiver standards for staff training and supervision.

• Maintains participant safeguards through continued federal CMS review, state developmental disabilities division quality assurance oversight, and Med-QUEST division monitoring of waiver compliance.

• Takes effect on July 1, 2019.