Abolishes the enrollment cap in the QUEST 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 most 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 and not getting and using necessary prescription pharmaceuticals, and are more likely to incur unnecessary emergency room costs because of their uninsured status. Thus, uninsured low-income adults pose a financial burden to hospitals, emergency rooms, community health centers, and others that provide uncompensated care.

The legislature further finds that 58.47 per cent of the funds needed to cover eligible adults under the QUEST medical assistance program can be matched by the federal government.

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

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346-   Medical assistance to adults. The department shall not impose a cap on enrollment in the QUEST health insurance program. The department shall enroll all adults who meet the program's income and asset eligibility criteria into the QUEST health insurance program."

SECTION 3. 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 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to provide QUEST health insurance program coverage for all adults who meet the program's income and asset eligibility criteria.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.