THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	124
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MEDICAID-SPONSORED PROGRAMS.

     WHEREAS, in 1965, the United States Congress established Medicaid as a jointly funded state and federal program that provides medical assistance to low-income individuals who qualify under Title XIX of the Social Security Act; and

     WHEREAS, within a general statutory framework, each state creates and administers its own Medicaid program; and

     WHEREAS, in the State of Hawaii, the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services administers the Medicaid program; and

     WHEREAS, the Med-QUEST Division oversees a number of programs that provide coverage for certain medical, mental health, and dental services for qualified children and adults including Medicaid Fee-For-Service, Hawaii QUEST, QUEST-Net, and QUEST Adult Coverage Expansion; and

     WHEREAS, the various Med-QUEST programs are financed through the State and the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and

     WHEREAS, in 2007, Med-QUEST programs enrolled over 200,000 Hawaii residents; and

     WHEREAS, the most vulnerable in our communities can depend on Medicaid to provide essential and emergent medical assistance, and the program's continued financial viability is vital to ensure continued access to needed services; and

     WHEREAS, a financial and management audit of the Department of Human Services Medicaid-sponsored programs would enhance public awareness of the programs' budgets and spending, thereby increasing transparency and accountability; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a financial and management audit of Department of Human Services Medicaid-sponsored programs to identify any areas of concern regarding, but not limited to, fee schedules, rates of federal reimbursement, financial shortfalls, and program delivery and implementation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is  requested to cooperate with and assist the Auditor in the performance of this audit; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of any audit findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Governor, the Director of Human Services, the Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division, and the Auditor.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Department of Human Services; Medicaid; Audit