STAND. COM. REP. 2402

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3033

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 3033 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL CARE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to restore basic dental care for adults enrolled in QUEST and medicaid.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Hawaii Primary Care Association, Kokua Council, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, and two individuals. The Department of Human Services submitted testimony in opposition.

Your Committees find that adults covered by medicaid and QUEST have low incomes and therefore are unable to afford basic dental care. Usually, their dental coverage is limited to emergency-only services. Recent research points to associations between chronic oral infections and diabetes, heart and lung disease, stroke, and low-birth-weight births. This measure will assist in reducing other costly medical services that result in poor dental health. Moreover, covering dental services through medicaid and QUEST earns a considerable federal match.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Including the aged, blind, and disabled; and

(2) Making an unspecified appropriation.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3033, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3033, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair