Abolishes enrollment cap for QUEST medical assistance program.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of human services has imposed a cap on enrollment in the QUEST medical assistance program that prevents non-pregnant adults who are income and asset eligible from enrolling in the program.

The legislature further finds that these low-income adults are at high risk for not getting necessary primary and preventive care, not getting and using necessary prescription pharmaceuticals, and more likely to incur unnecessary emergency room costs because of their uninsured status. Thus, uninsured low-income adults are a financial burden to hospitals, emergency rooms, community health centers, and others that provide uncompensated care.

The legislature further finds that fifty-three and eighty-five one hundredth per cent (53.85%) of the funds needed to cover eligible adults under the QUEST medical assistance program can be matched by the federal government.

The legislature further finds that the cap limit has not been raised even though more children are eligible for QUEST than before because of the more liberal eligibility limits for children implemented in July 2000. This failure to adjust the cap means that income and asset eligible adults will find it even more difficult to get into the medical assistance program.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of human services to abolish the cap on enrollment in the QUEST medical assistance program and enroll all adults who meet program income and asset eligibility criteria.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to provide QUEST medical assistance program coverage for all adults who meet the program’s income and asset eligibility criteria.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The department of human services shall cease to bar enrollment of any eligible applicant from the QUEST medical assistance program.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.