Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 340 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to abolish the cap on enrollment in the QUEST Medical Assistance Program (QUEST program).

Testimonies in support of this measure were received from the Hawaii State Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, American Friends Service Committee, and the Salvation Army Kona Community Clinic. Testimony in opposition of this measure was received from the Department of Human Services.

Under current law, there is a cap imposed on the enrollment of individuals in the QUEST program. The Department of Human Services (DHS) claims that abolishing the cap could:

Further, without federal approval, only state funds would be used to continue QUEST. DHS also clarified that eligible individuals of high priority are accepted into the QUEST program even if the cap is in effect.

Other interest groups noted that people who would normally be eligible for QUEST have been declined assistance due to the cap. Moreover, the prevalence of those with health care insurance is considered to be a good indicator of community health, and by abolishing the cap, health care will be available to more qualified individuals.

Your Committee has amended this bill by inserting $1 in the appropriation amount to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 340, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 340, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.