HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

210

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

 

strongly urging the department of education and department of Human Services to inform families about the availability of free immunizations to eligible individuals under twenty-one years through the hawaii early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, vaccinations are essential to the prevention of disease and reduction of health care expenses; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") reported that in 2011, only 78.5 per cent of children under three years of age received certain recommended vaccinations and less than 74 per cent of children between thirteen and seventeen years of age received recommended vaccinations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the CDC reported that children living below the federal poverty level received a lower rate of vaccination than children living at or above the federal poverty level; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program ("EPSDT Program") is a federally mandated program that provides preventive and comprehensive health care services at no cost to Medicaid eligible individuals under age twenty-one; and

 

     WHEREAS, the EPSDT Program furnishes the recommended vaccinations at no cost to eligible children living below the federal poverty level and, thus, eliminates economic barriers to the recommended vaccinations; and

 

     WHEREAS, Medicaid eligible families may not be aware of the availability of free vaccinations under the EPSDT Program; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education and Department of Human Services have the ability to inform children and families about the availability of free vaccinations under the EPSDT Program; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education and Department of Human Services are strongly urged to inform children and families about the availability of free vaccinations under the EPSDT Program; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Director of Human Services.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Immunizations; Education