STAND. COM. REP. NO. 499-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 3259

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 3259 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DENTAL HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide QUEST eligible adults and children with oral health care by appropriating funds to the Department of Health (DOH) to establish dental health clinics for this group, with at least one clinic in each of the state's counties.

The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Kokua Council supported this bill. DOH and State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

(1) Specifying that funds appropriated shall be used for DOH to establish community-based dental health clinics operated by community health centers or other community-based organizations;

(2) Providing that the aged, blind and disabled population should be included as a priority in DOH's plan to provide dental care;

(3) Directing that DOH provide the continuum of dental care based on best practices for QUEST eligible adults, the aged, blind, and disabled population consisting of, but not limited to:

(A) A lead primary care dentist who is trained by an accredited dental school in the treatment of individuals with disabilities;

(B) Faculty supervision from dentists from an accredited dental school providing appropriate sedation training; and

(C) Hospital-based care for anesthesia services.

(4) Changing the appropriation to $1 to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3259, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3259, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair