Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 122 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve prenatal care in Hawaii by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to presume that a pregnant woman who applies for Medicaid or QUEST coverage for prenatal care or other medical services related to the pregnancy is eligible for coverage.

The Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children; Good Beginnings Alliance; March of Dimes; Papa Ola Lokahi; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; and four concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. DHS opposed the measure. The Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted comments.

Your Committees find that it is in the best interest of Hawaii to ensure early and continuous prenatal care. Providing proper medical care to pregnant women will result in infants born in better health. Economically, it has been estimated that every $1 spent on prenatal care will save $3 in medical costs during the baby's first year of life alone.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 122 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.