An elderly Hilo couple separated for nearly two years could be reunited in as little as two weeks, following state House approval Tuesday of a bill that would allow them to live in the same care home.

Senate Bill 190 calls for allowing two non-Medicaid patients to live in the same adult residential foster home if the two people are married, reciprocal beneficiaries, siblings, the parents of a child or best friends.

The measure now goes back to the Senate. If approved by lawmakers, Gov. Linda Lingle has indicated she will sign it into law and the state Department of Social Services is ready to make an exception for the Kaides while it formulates administrative rules, said Rep. John Mizuno, D-30th (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley, Fort Shafter).

"I'm looking forward to living with my husband again," said Terry Kaide, who has been married to her husband, Sidney Kaide, for 63 years. "This is so wonderful. I'm grateful to all the legislators."

The current law is designed to protect Medicaid patients, giving priority to low-income patients to provide equal access to individual care offered in a residential foster care, which only allows up to three patients.