Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 892 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide access to State-funded QUEST medical benefits for pregnant immigrant women who meet income and eligibility requirements.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Kokua Kalihi Valley; the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; the Hawaii Primary Care Association; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii; Na Loio Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center; Waimanalo Health Center; and Hawaii Pacific Health. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services and AlohaCare.

Your Committee finds that it is well-settled that pregnant women who have access to appropriate prenatal care have healthier babies. Current Medicaid coverage for immigrant women excludes prenatal care and only provides coverage during and after delivery, when otherwise avoidable prenatal complications can be irreversible and potentially more costly. In 2000, the Legislature enacted Act 224, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, which provides medical assistance to immigrant children under nineteen years of age who are legal permanent residents who arrived in the United States after August 22, 1996, or permanently reside in the United States under color of law, and to nonimmigrant children from the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. Your Committee recognizes that the health of a newborn is largely dependent upon the health of the mother, and accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure is a logical extension of Act 224.

The Department of Human Services testified that the projected cost of this measure would be $4,238,000 each year. However, your Committee notes that there may be an opportunity for the State to access federal matching funds that would substantially reduce the State's share. It is your Committee's understanding that the Department can do so without legislative action; therefore, your Committee strongly encourages the Department to explore such opportunities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 892, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 892, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.