STAND. COM. REP. NO. 307-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1943

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1943, H.D. 1, 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, Pono Hawaii Initiative, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Breastfeeding Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, AAUW of Hawaii, Hawaii Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March of Dimes, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Maternal and Infant Health Collaborative, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and eleven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that, during the calendar years of 2015 and 2016, half of the maternal deaths in the State occurred from forty-three days to one year after the pregnancy ended. Your Committee further finds that over half of the State's maternal deaths were preventable over that same time period.

Your Committee notes that, as written, this measure may be interpreted to provide coverage only to women who have live births. However, women who experience stillbirths or miscarriages may experience conditions requiring medical assistance. Your Committee believes that these women should also be included in the coverage proposed by this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the eligible population who may receive twelve months of coverage are women who are enrolled in Medicaid insurance coverage during their pregnancy;

(2) Clarifying that eligible women who experience stillbirths or miscarriages are not excluded from this coverage;

(3) Inserting an unspecified appropriation amount; and

(4) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1943, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1943, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair