STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3654

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2144

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2144, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATED TO MEDICAID,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that the Department of Public Safety inform inmates, prior to their release, of available assistance to secure or verify their Medicaid eligibility.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that requiring the Department of Public Safety to inform inmates of available assistance to secure or verify their Medicaid eligibility prior to release will improve inmates' access to health care services that inmates may need for a successful reentry into the community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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. 2144, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2144, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair