STAND. COM. REP. NO.1228

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 249

H.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 249, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to provide basic dental services for adults covered by Medicaid and QUEST on a fee-for-service basis.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, The ARC of in Hawaii, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, The Kokua Council, Office of Social Ministry of the Catholic Church in Hawaii, and a private citizen.

This measure is intended to increase access to dental services to improve oral health for indigent adults, especially those on the neighbor islands. Basic dental services for adults covered by Medicaid and QUEST were discontinued as of February 1, 1996. Presently, only emergency dental services are covered. This measure would have an annual cap of $500 in benefits per enrollee, exclusive of emergency dental services, in order to hold down costs while reasonably achieving the objective.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 249, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair