STAND. COM. REP. NO.  177

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 989

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 989 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure health coverage for uninsured children in the state by:

     (1)  Extending the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program (Program) for three more years;

     (2)  Requiring primary health care services for Program participants to be provided by a federally qualified health center;

     (3)  Requiring the report from the Department of Human Services (DHS) and any participating managed care plan to be submitted to the Legislature before the 2010 and 2011 regular sessions, and include any proposals on funding sources other than the State; and

     (4)  Appropriating funds for the Program.

     The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  DHS offered comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 989 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair