Bill Text: HI SB3073 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Health Care; Appropriation; Low-Income Immigrants ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-27 - Referred to HMS/HTH, WAM. [SB3073 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-SB3073-Introduced.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3073 |
|
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to health care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that people immigrate to Hawaii from all over the world seeking better living conditions and opportunities to work. Hawaii's businesses rely on immigrant workers who frequently fill low-paying, unskilled, and part-time jobs. Immigrant workers, therefore, contribute to society but are vulnerable since they often lack health insurance for themselves and their dependents because of work status and poverty.
The legislature further finds that state funds are appropriated to the Hawaii immigrant health initiative, implemented by the department of human services. This initiative ensures that basic health care is available to low-income immigrants who meet medicaid eligibility criteria, but who are ineligible for medicaid coverage due to the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. However, funds currently available are inadequate to cover needed services that are provided by community health centers and other nonprofit caregivers across the State.
The legislature further finds that services provided under the Hawaii immigrant health initiative are for preventive and primary health care delivered by community health centers. The medical conditions most frequently treated in this program are hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy, and respiratory ailments. If these conditions are not addressed through the Hawaii immigrant health initiative, costs for uncompensated care delivered at hospital emergency rooms and for avoidable hospitalizations will be far greater and will affect public and private insurance rates for all Hawaii residents.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that low-income, uninsured immigrants have access to primary and preventive health care services.
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 2014-2015 for health care services for low-income, uninsured immigrants.
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, 2014.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
Health Care; Appropriation; Low-Income Immigrants
Description:
Appropriates $ for health care services for low-income, uninsured immigrants provided by the Hawaii immigrant health initiative. Effective July 1, 2014.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
