STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3348

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1752

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1752, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide health care to Hawaii residents that are uninsured, underinsured, potential medicaid enrollees, or medicaid enrollees.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds:

(1)  For community health centers to provide direct health care to uninsured and underinsured patients;

(2)  To restore basic adult dental benefits to medicaid enrollees;

(3)  To provide outreach and eligibility services to children, families, and individuals at federally qualified health centers; and

(4)  To establish health homes for medicaid enrollees as provided in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Ho'ola Lahui Hawaii, Lanai Community Health Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waimanalo Health Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Community Alliance for Mental Health, Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Waikiki Health, and one individual.  The Department of Human Services submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee believes that this measure provides a comprehensive package of funding for medical, dental, and behavioral health care in a cost-effective manner that maximizes federal matching funds.  Your Committee finds that funding community health centers, behavioral services, dental providers, and health homes will provide underserved and uninsured individuals with primary and preventative health care that will reduce long-term health care costs for the State and improve the well-being of those who cannot afford health care.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying in the four appropriations requiring the Department of Human Services to obtain the maximum federal matching funds, that the Department of Human Services shall obtain the maximum amount of federal matching funds for fiscal year 2014-2015 that are available for expenditure as provided in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2014.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1752, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1752, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair