Tell us exactly which part of the test you failed, each one can point somewhere different.
High HC (Hydrocarbons) - unburnt gasoline - Cylinder misfire. Malfunctioning evaporative canister system. This can be the result of a malfunctioning catalytic converter. Catalytic converter completes the combustion process by converting unburnt gasoline into CO2 (carbon dioxide)
High CO (Cabon Monoxide) - fuel mixture to rich, or not enough air reaching your combustion chamber.
High NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen - your state may not count NOx based on the year of your car) - Malfunctioning EGR valve - you can change it yourself - but its rarely the problem. The digital EGR's can be cleaned. If your EGR was malfuctioning, you would see the Service Engine Soon light on your dash.
Because your converter had a hole in it, I'd bet the catalyst rods or pellets on the inside are shot. You mentioned that since you had the work done, your car is hard to start. Is it also sluggish now? A clogged catalytic converter would cause those symptoms. Becuase yours had a hole in it, if it is clogged you wouldn't have noticed until they welded the hole shut.
Oh yeah... $440.00 for a catalytic converter on a lum? No way. Go to your local muffler shop. (You'll get a better deal.)