STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1639-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 3257

      S.D. 3

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3257, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to direct the Department of Human Services (DHS) to make a presumptive determination of eligibility for Medicaid or QUEST coverage for waitlisted patients.

     The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Queen's Medical Center, and Hawaii Business Roundtable supported this bill.  DHS opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3257, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3257, S.D. 3, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair