STAND. COM. REP. NO.596-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 1867

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide health care for the uninsured, particularly those suffering from loss of coverage due to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, by appropriating:

(1) An unspecified amount of funds, to be matched by federal funds on a 2:1 basis, to enable the Children's Health Insurance Program to expand eligibility to 300 percent of the poverty level guideline for Hawaii;

(2) An unspecified amount of funds, to be matched by federal funds on a 9:1 basis, to delink Medicaid and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) so that health benefits lost under TANF upon the expiration of the cumulative five-year lifetime cap on receipt of benefits can be continued under the State's QUEST program; and

(3) An unspecified amount of funds for community health centers in the State that provide health care services to the uninsured.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the Kokua Council, Papa Ola Lokahi, and the Kalihi-Palama Health Center testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services and Hawaii Together supported the intent of the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair