STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1091-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2429

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2429, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the state-funded medical assistance provided to eligible pregnant women for up to twelve months post-pregnancy in certain circumstances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawaii Primary Care Association, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Maternal & Infant Health Collaborative, Filipina Advocacy Network, March of Dimes, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony by the Department of Human Services regarding expanding Medicaid coverage to a new population, which will require additional funding. The Department of Human Services estimates that approximately $3,200,000 in total funds would be necessary, and that the entire amount would need to be paid through state-only funds. Research indicates that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not consistently approved other states' requests for twelve-month postpartum coverage, which would mean that state-only dollars would have to be used to implement this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Permitting additional medical assistance for any woman enrolled in Medicaid during her pregnancy, and any newborn child of that woman, for health-related issues that arise because of tobacco, alcohol, or opioid use during pregnancy;

(2) Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds; and

(3) 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 S.B. No. 2429, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2429, S.D. 2, 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