Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 204 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the auditor assess the impact that Department of Human Services' (DHS) policy of expedited processing of applications from pregnant women using the "Medical Assistance Application for Children and Pregnant Women Only" form has had on early entry into prenatal care and subsequent birth outcomes.

The March of Dimes, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, and a concerned individual supported this measure. DHS provided comments.

Your Committees find that in January 2004 DHS implemented an expedited application process for pregnant women seeking health insurance coverage through Medicaid or QUEST. DHS objective is to assure pregnant women with access to prenatal care, with a wait of no more than five days for processing of their application for Medicaid or QUEST. An assessment of the new procedure's effectiveness is sought.

Upon further consideration, this concurrent resolution has been amended by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 204, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 204, H.D. 1.