STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2062

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2027
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2027 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DENTAL
     SERVICES FOR ADULTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for
dental services for adults.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Human Services, Department of Health,
State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, The ARC in
Hawaii, Bay Clinic, Inc., Hawaii State Primary Care Association,
Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Ke Ola Mamo Native Hawaiian Health
Care System, Office for Social Ministry, Hana Community Health
Center, Hawaii Nurses' Association, Kokua Council, Waimanalo
Health Center, Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, American
Friends Service Committee, and twenty-five private individuals.

     As of February 1, 1996, basic dental services for adults
covered by Medicaid and Med-QUEST were discontinued.  Presently,
Medicaid and Med-QUEST cover only emergency dental services.
Medicaid, a federally funded program, will provide fifty-one and
one-half per cent of the funds necessary to provide basic dental
coverage to Medicaid and Med-QUEST adult clients.  The State must
provide the remaining forty-eight and one-half per cent of the
necessary funds.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2062
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     Your Committee finds that the Department of Health and some
community health centers have had to reduce or discontinue adult
dental services due to budget restrictions.  As a result of these
restrictions, indigent adults, who are covered by Medicaid or
Med-QUEST, have no access to basic dental care, particularly on
the neighbor islands.  This measure provides for basic dental
services.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2027 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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