STAND. COM. REP. NO. 49-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1943

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1943 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide twelve months of postpartum medical assistance to pregnant women who are ineligible for medical insurance coverage through their employer or Medicaid.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Primary Care Association, American Academy of Pediatrics-Hawaii Chapter, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Breastfeeding Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, March of Dimes, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Maternal and Infant Health Collaborative, and twelve individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee notes that in its testimony, the Department of Human Services requested clarification regarding which population is being covered by this measure. The Department noted that, as written, there is potential for individuals with more diverse sources of coverage to be eligible for Medicaid.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1943, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1943, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair