Bill Text: HI HR30 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Urging The Department Of Human Services To Conduct A Study On The Reimplementation Of Adult Dental Benefits For Hawaii Residents Who Are Medicaid Enrollees.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-10 - Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HR30 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HR30-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

30

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE REIMPLEMENTATION OF ADULT DENTAL BENEFITS FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEDICAID ENROLLEES.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, access to regular dental care varies greatly across the State, with many rural and neighbor island residents and low-income families experiencing less access to regular dental care than other residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, the lack of access to dental insurance coverage and dental care is a social justice issue that disproportionately affects the poor, children, the elderly, and racial and ethnic minority groups; and

 

     WHEREAS, poor oral health can negatively impact an individual's general health and self-image and has been linked to an array of acute and chronic health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, strokes, depression, low birth weight, premature births, and oral diseases; and

 

     WHEREAS, oral diseases are a significant health problem that affects the overall health and well-being of many Hawaii residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, untreated oral diseases can result in a decrease in or loss of workplace productivity due to absenteeism, under-employment, and unemployment; and

 

     WHEREAS, the prevalence of oral diseases and tooth loss is disproportionately high among low-income residents, especially among Medicaid enrollees; and

 

     WHEREAS, receiving dental insurance coverage is a key factor in an individual's ability to access dental care; and

     WHEREAS, insufficient dental insurance coverage or access to dental care may result in more severe health conditions and higher costs, further disadvantaging Medicaid enrollees; and

 

     WHEREAS, studies have shown that reducing or eliminating Medicaid adult dental benefits has led to significant national increases in dental-related emergency room visits and associated costs; and

 

     WHEREAS, it has been nearly a decade since the State removed all non-emergency Medicaid adult dental benefits; and

 

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest for the State to consider restoring dental benefits, including diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental benefits, and to expand access to care for adult Medicaid enrollees; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the Department of Human Services is urged to conduct a study on the reimplementation of adult dental benefits for Hawaii residents who are Medicaid enrollees; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include:

 

     (1)  A range of adult Medicaid dental benefit options, including coverage of basic, comprehensive, and population specific benefits and coverage offered by other states for diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental services;

 

     (2)  The estimated cost to the State's Medicaid program for each option, including any costs that qualify for federal matching funds;

 

     (3)  A projection, to the best of the Department of Human Services' ability, of the long-term financial benefit of reimplementing adult dental benefits for Medicaid enrollees; and

 

     (4)  Feedback from the community and stakeholders; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Department of Human Services is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Human Services, and Director of Health.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Department of Human Services; Department of Health; Medicaid; Dental Benefits; Study

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