Kūpuna Caucus secures $30 million for senior program across Hawaiʻi – Maui Now

The caucus also passed one bill from its legislative package and supported three others headed to the Governor David Ige’s desk for final approval, the caucus announced today.

“As many of our kūpuna continue to age, the collaborative work of our caucus has become increasingly necessary,” said co-conveners Sen. Sharon Moriwaki  (District 12) and Rep. Troy Hashimoto (District 8 ). “These bills scale up to the needs of our kūpuna. They expand access to healthcare and fund disability resources and programs that will put our kūpuna on solid footing.” 

Budget highlights include:

• $2,650,000 for Kūpuna Care program
• $1,500,000 for Aging and Disability Resource Centers for all counties across the State
• $25,952,297 to provide adult dental benefits to MedQuest patients under “Option 2,” including both cleaning and treatment services.
• Funding for five positions for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Bills passed include:

SB2679 SD2 HD2 CD1 – Extends the renewal period from two years to four years for licensees who are 72 years of age or older but younger than 80. Takes effect Jan. 1, 2023.

SB1138 SD2 HD2 CD1 – Establishes the annual expenditure ceiling of the Office of Health Care Assurance Special Fund through the state budget process. Appropriates funds to complete the health care facility management information system project.

SB3113 SD2 HD1 – Incorporates the kūpuna caregivers’ program into the Kūpuna Care program and adds services for care recipients, caregivers and employed caregivers.

SB3289 SD2 HD2 CD1– Establishes the Hawai’i Retirement Savings Program, administered by the Hawai’i Retirement Savings Board, to provide a state-facilitated payroll-deduction individual retirement savings plan to private sector employees who do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement savings plans beginning on an implementation date to be determined by the board. Authorizes an implementation and evaluation study, followed by an implementation strategy and timetable, prior to implementation of the program. Provides a state match of up to $500 to the accounts of the first 50,000 covered employees who participate in the program for 12 consecutive months after initial enrollment.

SB3236 SD2 HD1 CD1 – Appropriates funds to provide enhanced payments to state-licensed skilled nursing facilities, community care foster family homes, and expanded adult residential care homes that are caring for Medicaid patients; provided that the Department of Human Services shall obtain the maximum amount of federal matching funds available for this expenditure.