STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1606
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.C.R. No. 39
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 39 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HEALTH DATA ADVISORY COUNCIL TO CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED CHILDREN STATEWIDE AND PER COUNTY IN 2025 AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MED-QUEST DIVISION TO ESTIMATE COSTS AND COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY ON POLICY CHANGES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to
request:
(1) The Health Data Advisory Council of the State Health Planning and Development Agency to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and per county in 2025; and
(2) The Med-QUEST
Division of the Department of Human Services to estimate the state-related cost
of increasing the coverage of children between the ages of six to eighteen from
the current two years of continuous coverage following Medicaid eligibility to
up to twelve years of continuous coverage by Med-QUEST.
Your Committee received comments on this
measure from the Department of Human Services.
Your Committee finds that despite Hawaii's
commitment to health care access, a significant number of children across the
State remain uninsured. Expanding
Med-QUEST coverage presents a cost-effective solution to reducing the number of
uninsured children, ensuring continuous access to essential health care
services. This measure addresses the
issue by requesting the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm the number of
uninsured children statewide and per county and directing the Department of
Human Services' Med-QUEST Division to estimate costs and collaborate with the
State Health Planning and Development Agency on policy changes to achieve
universal health insurance coverage for children. By gathering accurate data and identifying
feasible policy solutions, this measure supports the State's efforts to ensure
that all children in Hawaii have access to comprehensive health care.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 39 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,
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____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair |
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