STAND. COM. REP. NO.  736

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1161

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1161, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide quality, cost-effective health and dental care for qualified Hawaii residents by appropriating funds to be matched with federal funds and used for:

(1)  Restoring basic adult dental benefits to Medicaid enrollees;

(2)  Providing outreach and eligibility services for children, families, and individuals at federally qualified health centers; and

(3)  Establishing health homes for Medicaid enrollees at federally qualified community health centers.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Primary Care Association, The Queen's Health Systems, Lanai Community Health Center, and a couple of individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, and an individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1161, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair