STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1367

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.C.R. No. 147

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 147 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING CONSIDERATION OF MEDICAID EXPANSION AS A VIABLE SOLUTION TO PROVIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS WITH INCOME BETWEEN ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE PERCENT AND TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support access to medical care by urging the expansion of Medicaid coverage for low income Hawaii residents with income between one hundred thirty-three percent and two hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level

The Community Alliance for Mental Health and United Self Help, AlohaCare, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, and Hawaii Primary Care Association testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services commented on the measure.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Urging consideration in seeking viable options to providing insurance coverage rather than only considering the expansion of the Medicaid program;

     (2)  Amending its title to read:  "URGING CONSIDERATION IN SEEKING A VIABLE SOLUTION TO PROVIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS WITH INCOME BETWEEN ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE PERCENT AND TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL";

     (3)  Changing the language regarding federal government support for Medicaid expansion from one hundred percent to two hundred percent; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 147, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 147, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

____________________________ MELE CARROLL, Chair