STAND. COM. REP. NO.  418-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2761

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2761 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WOMEN'S HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the health and welfare of women between pregnancies by requiring the provision of post-partum and interconceptional care for female participants of child-bearing age under the QUEST program.

     The March of Dimes, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association supported the intent of this measure and suggested amendments.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) submitted comments.

     Your Committees note that the projected total cost of the services contained in this measure is $4,370,388.  In addition, if this measure is passed and enacted into law, DHS will submit an amendment to the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan and to the QUEST 1115 Medicaid Waiver allowing each female participant of child-bearing age under QUEST to receive an additional four months of post-partum coverage as a benefit.  If the amendment is approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, the federal government will provide federal matching funds for the additional coverage. 

     In light of testimony received on this matter, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring DHS to make appropriate adjustments to the "rate of payment per participating recipient" amount paid to health maintenance organizations and prepaid health plans pursuant to section 346-59(d), to allow for post-partum and interconception care coverage to QUEST recipients administered by a person licensed to practice medicine under chapter 453; and

     (2)  Establishing that health maintenance organizations and prepaid health plans shall not be required to increase coverage to QUEST recipients for post-partum and interconception care administered to QUEST recipients until DHS makes adjustments to the "rate of payment per participating recipient" amounts.

     Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2761, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2761, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health,

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair