Bill Text: HI SB964 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Public Health; QUEST; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB964 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB964-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 228

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 964

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 964 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics are reimbursed for all Med-QUEST programs by appropriating funds to pay for direct medical care to the uninsured.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics play an important role in the Medicaid delivery system.  In order to continue to provide quality health care to over 125,000 patients, the financial position of federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics must be improved.  Your Committee also finds that these providers serve a key role in delivering primary health care services, particularly in rural areas.

 

     Your Committee further finds that this measure would enable federally qualified health centers to continue to provide direct medical care to the uninsured, thus enabling the State to save money through the provision of good primary care.  Timely access to primary care services can alleviate future health care expenses, including emergency room visits and inpatient hospital admissions.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount from an unspecified amount to $2,000,000.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 964, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 964, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

		____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair