HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2144
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

related to medicaid.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 346-29, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) No applicant or recipient who is found guilty of fraudulently misrepresenting residence to obtain assistance in two or more states shall be entitled to public assistance under this chapter for ten years from date of conviction. No applicant or recipient shall be entitled to public assistance under this chapter who is a fugitive felon or who is in violation of a condition of probation or parole or has sufficient income or other resources to provide a standard above that provided in this chapter, or who is an inmate of any public institution, except that any inmate of a public institution who is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and who has been determined by the medical director of the institution as having a major illness or medical condition requiring the provision of medical care outside of the institution may receive assistance under this chapter. Medicaid benefits for an inmate of any public institution shall be suspended, rather than terminated, upon incarceration. An inmate shall remain enrolled for medicaid benefits as long as all other eligibility criteria are met. An inmate of a public institution or resident of a medical institution that was previously not eligible for assistance may apply for assistance to begin after the inmate's discharge from the institution. To enforce this subsection, the department shall examine each list of inmates within, or newly admitted to, a correctional facility in the State that is submitted to the department by the director of public safety pursuant to section 353-12.5, regardless of the nature of the offense for which an inmate is incarcerated or the duration of incarceration, to determine whether an inmate is eligible for public assistance under this chapter."

SECTION 2. Section 353H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The department, in collaboration with appropriate federal, state, and county agencies, shall inform inmates of the availability of departmental assistance to obtain the inmate's birth certificate, social security card, and any other relevant identification documents necessary for the inmate to transition into the workforce, access social services, secure or verify applicable medicaid eligibility, and secure housing, and upon request shall assist the inmates who have one year or less prior to the inmate's parole or release date."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Medicaid; Inmate; Public Institution; Prisons; Jails; Correctional Facilities

Description:

Requires the Department of Human Services to suspend rather than terminate an individual's medicaid eligibility upon entry into a correctional facility. Requires the Department of Public Safety to inform inmates of the availability of assistance to secure or verify applicable medicaid eligibility prior to an inmate's release.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.