WHEREAS, many patients who are discharged from the hospital require continued care at home; and

WHEREAS, because of costs and other factors, family caregivers are increasingly called upon to provide such care; and

WHEREAS, based on estimates from 2009, there were 247,000 family caregivers in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, caregiver advocates in Hawaii believe that the amount of instruction that family caregivers currently receive from hospitals depends largely on the individual hospital treating the patient; however, there is a need to provide a minimum and consistent level of instruction for all caregivers statewide; and

WHEREAS, hospitals face greater pressure from the federal government and private insurers to avoid the readmission of patients within thirty days of their initial discharge; and

WHEREAS, hospitals presently provide discharge plans for all patients, which may or may not involve family caregivers; and

WHEREAS, the hospital members of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii remain concerned about how legislation would affect factors such as liability, cost, and implementation; and

WHEREAS, S.B. No. 296, introduced during the Regular Session of 2015, includes provisions that seek to address many of these concerns; and

WHEREAS, the working group that was created by H.C.R. No. 78, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2014, was unable to reach consensus and unable to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015, as directed; and

WHEREAS, there must be an even balance between caregiver advocates and hospitals in the membership of the working group; and

WHEREAS, the working group must cease to exist prior to the convening of the next regular session of the Legislature; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the House of Representatives concurring, that the co-chairs, as identified in this measure, are requested to convene a Family Caregivers Working Group to examine and assess issues contained in S.B. No. 296, Regular Session of 2015, including but not limited to:

(1) The role of family caregivers;

(2) The state of the current practice of designating family caregivers;

(3) Notification of family caregivers when a hospital discharges a patient or transfers a patient to another licensed facility;

(4) Family caregivers' involvement in discharge planning and instruction;

(5) The role of hospitals in the instruction of family caregivers; and

(6) Providing legislative and regulatory recommendations on how best to involve family caregivers in the patient-discharge process and prepare family caregivers for post-discharge tasks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the participation of the following individuals is invited:

(1) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

(2) A representative from AARP Hawaii;

(3) A representative from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

(4) A representative from the Kokua Council;

(5) Six representatives of private hospitals in Hawaii;

(6) A representative from the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs;

(7) A representative from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation;

(8) A representative from ILWU Local 142;

(9) A representative from the Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition;

(10) A representative from each of the county Area Agencies on Aging;

(11) A representative from Project Dana;

(12) A representative from the Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans;

(13) A member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chair of the Family Caregivers Working Group; and

(14) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as co-chair of the Family Caregivers Working Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the co-chairs of the Family Caregivers Working Group shall:

(1) Listen to the discussions and presentations made by all members of the Family Caregivers Working Group;

(2) Report on areas of agreement, the concerns of the various stakeholders, and any solutions proposed by the various members; and

(3) Make recommendations, as appropriate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Family Caregivers Working Group shall not vote on any findings, recommendations, or proposed solutions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health shall:

(1) Provide logistical support to the co-chairs of the Family Caregivers Working Group, as requested by the co-chairs; and

(2) Prepare and draft any reports produced by the Family Caregivers Working Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Family Caregivers Working Group shall cease to exist on December 1, 2015; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group created by H.C.R. No. 78, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2014, shall cease to exist on the date of the adoption of this Concurrent Resolution by both houses of the Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no action taken or not taken by the Family Caregivers Working Group shall in any way prohibit or forestall legislative action by the House of Representatives, the Senate, or both; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, and all other entities named herein to be invited as members of the Family Caregivers Working Group.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Family Caregivers Working Group

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	107
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII