Bill Text: HI SB2634 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Health.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-04-27 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-22 3:40PM; Conference Room 329. [SB2634 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2634-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2634 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that women who are ineligible for postpartum health coverage struggle to get necessary care during the twelve months following childbirth, which is a critical time, as women are more likely to die of pregnancy-related conditions postpartum than during pregnancy or childbirth. Drug overdoses, suicides, and pregnancy-related chronic illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure contribute to a rise in deaths among women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first twelve months after childbirth.
The legislature also finds that, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adequate medical attention could prevent three out of five postpartum deaths. Medicaid pregnancy coverage, which pays for nearly half of all births in the United States, expires sixty days after childbirth, leaving many women without health insurance during this vulnerable time. Although women may reapply as a parent after this sixty-day time period, because the income limit for parents is lower, many women are unable to qualify for coverage as a parent.
The legislature further finds that, with increasing nationwide attention on the United States' maternal mortality rate, which is one of the highest among high-income countries, there has been increasing emphasis on the importance of postpartum care and the recognition that many postpartum conditions are not resolved within sixty days and require ongoing care and treatment. Data from the 2019 Hawaii Maternal Mortality Review Committee report shows that fifty per cent of the State's maternal deaths between 2015-2016 occurred in the late postpartum period, which covers forty-three days to one year after delivery. Under existing law, the late postpartum period is when many women lose their medicaid coverage and are unable to obtain necessary medical care.
The legislature additionally finds that, in order to improve maternal health and coverage stability and to help address racial disparities in maternal health, a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, gives states a new option to extend medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months via a state plan amendment. This new option takes effect on April 1, 2022, and is available to states for five years.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate state funds required to draw down the federal matching funds to extend medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months following the end of pregnancy.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to extend medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months following the end of pregnancy.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.
Report Title:
Department of Human Services; Pregnancy; State-funded Medical Assistance; Medicaid Coverage; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates moneys to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months following the end of pregnancy. Effective 7/1/2060. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
