STAND. COM. REP. NO. 258

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1061

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services, Health, and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1061 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR QUEST AND MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR ALIENS RESIDING IN HAWAII UNDER THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to provide QUEST and Medicaid coverage for aged, blind, and disabled alien individuals residing in Hawaii under the Compact of Free Association.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Pacific Islands Primary Care Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Hawaii Pacific Health supported this bill.

Your Committees recognize that the United States has an agreement with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and Federated States of Micronesia, known as the Compact of Free Association (Compact). The Compact allows citizens from these nations to enter the United States freely and gain access to education, employment, residence, and health care. While Hawaii receives some federal funding to help pay for services under the Compact, the amount is insufficient. An appropriation is necessary to relieve community health centers and hospitals of the cost of providing care and treatment to these foreign citizens.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services, Health, and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1061 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair

____________________________

HELÉNE H. HALE, Chair