STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3083

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2634

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2634, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys from general revenues to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months following the end of pregnancy.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; Disability and Communication Access Board; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; AlohaCare; Hawaii Medical Service Association; United Healthcare; Hawaii Public Health Association; Hawaii Women's Coalition; Hawaii Primary Care Association; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Medical Association; American Heart Association; Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates - Hawaii; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Hawaii Public Health Institute; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Hawaii Pacific Health; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section; Ahahui o na Kauka - Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians; Hawaii Family Forum; Midwives Alliance of Hawaii; Hawaii Women Lawyers; Hawaii Maternal and Infant Health Collaborative; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Children’s Action Network Speaks!; and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that it is important for the State to support women who are otherwise ineligible for postpartum health coverage, as these women often struggle to receive necessary care during the twelve months that immediately follow childbirth.

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 S.B. No. 2634, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair