From: Summer Hale Pahaku Beachside <summer@aloha.

net>
Date: June 26, 2009 10:57:01 AM HST
To: summerlynne2@gmail.com
Subject: Fwd: *****SPAM***** Re: FW: Are Hawaii's Medicaid cuts violating CMS's
MOE requirement for enhanced FMAP funding?

Regards,
Summer Harrison
Owner and Manager
Hale Pahaku Beachside Vacation Resort
www.vacationrental-kauai.com
Toll-free (866) 742-6462
summer@aloha.net

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland" <senchunoakland@Capitol.hawaii.gov>
Date: June 15, 2009 10:21:49 PM HST
To: "summer@aloha.net" <summer@aloha.net>
Cc: "KFink@medicaid.dhs.state.hi.us" <KFink@medicaid.dhs.state.hi.us>
Subject: FW: *****SPAM***** Re: FW: Are Hawaii's Medicaid cuts violating CMS's MOE
requirement for enhanced FMAP funding?

Hi Summer:

Please see the response from the State'e Medicaid Administrator, Dr. Kenneth Fink.
Thanks for e-mailing me and I hope this is helpful information.

Aloha,

Senator Susie Chun Oakland

________________________________________
From: KFink@medicaid.dhs.state.hi.us [KFink@medicaid.dhs.state.hi.us]
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 2:45 PM
To: Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland
Subject: *****SPAM***** Re: FW: Are Hawaii's Medicaid cuts violating CMS's MOE
requirement for enhanced FMAP funding?

Hello Senator Chun Oakland. As I previously communicated to you, we will not take
any action that will make Hawaii ineligible for the increased FMAP under ARRA
Section 5001. What I did not explicitly communicate was that we are in compliance
with that section and have begun drawing down stimulus funds.

The MOE requirements in Section 5001 refer to Medicaid eligibility and not to
benefits or reimbursement. The eligibility change we had made by reducing the
retroactive coverage period from 90 to 30 days that made us ineligible was
restored through HAR change effective last week, and we had earlier reinstated the
policy of self-declaration for non-ABD adults. These changes brought us into
compliance with the requirements of teh section and allowed us to begin accessing
the stimulus funds.

I understand Ms. Harrison's concern about changes in the DD/MR program, but her
comments on compliance with Section 5001 of ARRA are incorrect.

-----"Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland" <senchunoakland@Capitol.hawaii.gov> wrote: -----

To: "Dr. Kenny Fink" <KFink@medicaid.dhs.state.hi.us>

From: "Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland" <senchunoakland@Capitol.hawaii.gov>
Date: 06/13/2009 02:15PM
Subject: FW: Are Hawaii's Medicaid cuts violating CMS's MOE requirement for
enhanced FMAP funding?

Hi Kenny:

Could you comment on the e-mail below?

Thanks,

Susie
________________________________
From: Summer Harrison [summer@aloha.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:14 PM
To: Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland
Subject: Are Hawaii's Medicaid cuts violating CMS's MOE requirement for enhanced
FMAP funding?

On February 1 Hawaii did away with all but one of its medicaid waiver programs for
home and community support services. The state has cut between 15% and 70% of
support service budgets for virtually everyone in the DD waiver program. Another
15% cut is under consideration.

It seems that Hawaii is violating the Maintenance of Effort requirement of the

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which makes the state ineligible for an
additional $360 million in federal funds for medicaid. I can't confirm, but the
state should have already received more than $70 million of those funds.

Here's the link to a longer article I've posted about it, along with the links to
all the sources I quoted:
http://disabilitymom.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-hawaii-violating-federal.html

Something needs to be done at the state and federal level to get this stopped.

Sincerely,
Summer Harrison
(808) 742-8787
Kalaheo, HI 96741