Bill Text: HI HR166 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Resolution 166 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Immunizations; Education

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-28 - The committee(s) on HUS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HR166 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HR166-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	166
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

strongly urging the department of education and department of Human Services to inform families about the availability of free immunizations to eligible individuals under twenty-one years through the hawaii early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program.

WHEREAS, vaccinations are essential to the prevention of disease and reduction of health care expenses; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") reported that in 2011, only 78.5 per cent of children under three years of age received certain recommended vaccinations and less than 74 per cent of children between thirteen and seventeen years of age received recommended vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, the CDC reported that children living below the federal poverty level received a lower rate of vaccination than children living at or above the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program ("EPSDT Program") is a federally mandated program that provides preventive and comprehensive health care services at no cost to Medicaid eligible individuals under age twenty-one; and

WHEREAS, the EPSDT Program furnishes the recommended vaccinations at no cost to eligible children living below the federal poverty level and, thus, eliminates economic barriers to the recommended vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid eligible families may not be aware of the availability of free vaccinations under the EPSDT Program; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education and Department of Human Services have the ability to inform children and families about the availability of free vaccinations under the EPSDT Program; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Department of Education and Department of Human Services are strongly urged to inform children and families about the availability of free vaccinations under the EPSDT Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Director of Human Services.