STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2236

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2934

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2934 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to retain comprehensive QUEST program coverage for qualified immigrants to Hawaii under the Compacts of Free Association.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Micronesians United – Big Island, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Lawyers for Equal Justice, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that despite the budget challenges affecting the provision of all state services, supporting services that are essential to survival is a primary concern and responsibility of the State.  This measure provides funding to ensure that approximately one hundred migrants who have immigrated to Hawaii under the Compacts of Free Association and who qualify for coverage under the QUEST program will continue to receive comprehensive health care coverage for medical treatments such as hemodialysis and chemotherapy treatments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2934 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair