STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2670

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2459

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2459 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID BENEFITS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to restore diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental benefits to adult Medicaid enrollees.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Papa Ola Lokahi; AlohaCare; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; The Queen's Health Systems; AARP Hawai‘i; Hawaii Dental Association; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association; Hawai‘i State Rural Health Association; ‘Ohana Health Plan; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition; Pono Hawai‘i Initiative; Easterseals Hawaii; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Full Life; Hui No Ke Ola Pono; Ho‘ōla Lāhui Hawai‘i; Save Medicaid Hawaii; We Are One, Inc.; and sixteen individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Hawaii Primary Care Association.

Your Committees find that poor oral health is linked with respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Dental diseases also contribute to cardiac issues and premature births. Furthermore, unaddressed dental needs affect the ability of individuals to obtain and keep employment.

Your Committees further find that among the Medicaid programs that need to be fully funded are dental benefits for adults. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the State to ensure access to dental health care for its residents as oral health is an essential part of general health and well-being.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that requires the Department of Human Services to pursue all funding sources known to the State, including private grants, to restore diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental benefits to adult Medicaid enrollees prior to expending any general revenues appropriated by this measure; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2459, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2459, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair