STAND. COM. REP. NO. 980

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 989

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to extend the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program until 2012 and require that participants receive primary health care services at Federally Qualified Health Centers.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Hawaii Medical Service Association.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Medical Association.  The Department of Human Services submitted comments and suggested amendments.  Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that the number of uninsured children in the State varies, however, it is generally acknowledged that there is a gap group that is ineligible for any state or federal health care coverage.  The majority of children in this gap group are those whose family income is at or just over three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level.  Others in this group may include infants born to uninsured mothers, immigrants with temporary visas, and undocumented immigrants who have been in Hawaii for less than six months.  In Hawaii, the total number of those who fall into the gap group could be as high as 3,500 children.  The Hawaii Children's Health Care Program insures children and youth in this gap group so they can participate in school and other activities, and alleviates the stress on parents who experience hardship when an uninsured child is sick. 

     Your Committees note that this measure limits the participants in the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program to using Federally Qualified Health Centers, which may not be available to children in certain geographic locations.  Federally Qualified Health Centers report increased strain on the health care safety-net, and limiting participants' choice of providers may disrupt the continuity of care the children receive. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting the requirement that participants receive primary health care services at Federally Qualified Health Centers.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair