|
THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
147 |
|
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO REEXAMINE THE BASIC HEALTH PLAN UNDER THE FEDERAL PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ONCE FEDERAL RULES HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE FEDERAL SECTION 1115 WAIVER GRANTED TO HAWAII TO RAISE THE MEDICAID INCOME ELIGIBILITY CEILING TO PROVIDE THE GREATEST HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF HAWAII'S PEOPLE.
WHEREAS, in 1994, a statewide Medicaid demonstration named Hawaii QUEST Expanded was implemented through a federal section 1115 waiver, and pregnant women, children, and non-disabled adults with incomes of up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level were made eligible; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, the program made several significant changes that restricted enrollment in the QUEST program, implemented an enrollment cap of one hundred twenty-five thousand people, and established a new safety net program as a component of Hawaii QUEST Expanded called QUEST-Net that would serve those who became ineligible for QUEST due to the more stringent eligibility requirements; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the State limited the eligibility for QUEST to those with incomes of up to one hundred percent of the federal poverty level, with pregnant women and children assigned a higher limit; and
WHEREAS, while the QUEST-Net program covered adults with incomes of up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level, only about two hundred twenty adults were enrolled, and as of February 1, 2008, QUEST-Net became more restrictive by excluding adults with incomes of more than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level; and
WHEREAS, inflating health care costs have put individuals, especially children, at severe risk of foregoing medical care, and Hawaii needs to plan, execute, and maintain health insurance expansions to increase the availability and affordability of health care; and
WHEREAS, preliminary information suggests the Basic Health Plan under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would provide new federal funding for health insurance coverage for Hawaii families with incomes between one hundred thirty-three percent to two hundred percent of the federal poverty level, a population that includes approximately four thousand five hundred individuals and was covered by the Hawaii Medicaid QUEST-ACE and QUEST-Net until recently; and
WHEREAS, benefits of the Basic Health Plan may include:
(1) The eligibility for lawfully present non-immigrants who are under the age of sixty-five and are not eligible for Medicaid;
(2) The possibility of restoring benefits to Hawaii families with incomes between one hundred thirty-three percent to two hundred percent of the federal poverty level, with generous federal financial support to the State; and
(3) The eligibility for Compact of Free Association migrants, who are currently not eligible for federal Medicaid funding; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to reexamine the Basic Health Plan under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act once federal rules have been issued and to consider amending the federal section 1115 waiver granted to Hawaii to raise the Medicaid income eligibility ceiling to provide the greatest health care coverage to serve the needs of Hawaii's people; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Human Services, and the Hawaii Health Authority.
Medicaid; QUEST; Basic Health Plan; Department of Human Services