STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2579

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2219

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2219, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the period of coverage under QUEST for post‑partum and interconception care coverage for up to six months post‑pregnancy.

     Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help improve reproductive health outcomes for women with QUEST coverage by expanding the period of coverage for post‑partum and interconception care services for up to six months.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that post‑partum and interconception care coverage to QUEST recipients may be administered by a person licensed to practice osteopathy under chapter 460, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as well as, a person licensed to practice medicine under chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2219, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2219, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair