HI SB298

Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-home services provided by the Department of Human Services.

Establishes legislative findings that current Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-home services (homemaker/companion/chore, personal care, and private duty nursing) are insufficient to cover actual costs of care and retain direct care workers.

Notes that a 2022 actuarial study by Milliman recommended rate scenarios based on wage percentiles, with current provider costs exceeding even the high scenario rates modeled in that study.

Identifies that low reimbursement rates prevent qualified providers like Kokua Healthcare from serving Medicaid clients and create workforce retention challenges in Hawaii's competitive labor market.

Takes effect on July 1, 3000 (note: effective date appears to contain a typographical error).