HI SB298

Appropriates unspecified general fund amounts for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-home care services

Addresses wage pressure for direct care workers providing home-based services including homemaker, personal care, attendant care, and private duty nursing

References a December 2022 Milliman actuarial study that found current direct care wages fall below the 25th percentile for comparable occupations in Hawaii's competitive labor market

Aims to help kupuna and people with disabilities remain in their homes rather than institutional nursing facilities, which is less costly and preferred by 83% of surveyed Hawaii residents age 45 and older

Effective date set to July 1, 3000 (placeholder date indicating appropriation amounts need to be determined)