STAND. COM. REP. NO.  809

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 989

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 989 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure health coverage for uninsured children in the state by:

     (1)  Extending the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program (Program) to June 30, 2012;

     (2)  Requiring primary health care services for Program participants to be provided by a federally qualified health center;

     (3)  Requiring the report from the Department of Human Services (DHS) and any participating managed care plan to be submitted to the Legislature before the 2010 and 2011 regular sessions, and include any proposals on funding sources other than the State; and

     (4)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for the Program.

     The Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and Hawaii Medical Service Association testified in support of this bill.  DHS provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 989, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair