STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3054

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2738

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2738, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds for a three-year pilot program to provide health care services to uninsured newborn children who are at least one day old and no more than thirty days old;

(2) Establish and appropriate funds for a three-year pilot program to provide health care coverage to certain children who are between thirty-one days old and nineteen years old; and

(3) Require the Department of Human Services to report to the Legislature.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, March of Dimes Foundation – Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008 (Act 236), established the Keiki Care pilot program in the Med-QUEST division of the Department of Human Services to provide health insurance to children who were uninsured, provided that they were not eligible for other state or federal health care coverage. However, on November 1, 2008, the then-Governor discontinued the program more than two years short of the span intended by Act 236. Your Committees further find that there is currently a gap group of children who are ineligible for state or federal health care coverage. Children who remain uninsured typically do not receive adequate preventative care or routine management of acute or chronic health conditions. This measure will provide children health care coverage and services to lead healthy lives.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2738, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair