STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3200

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2459

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2459, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to restore diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental benefits to adult medicaid enrollees.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, AARP Hawaii, AlohaCare, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hana Health, Hawaii - American Nurses Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Dental Service, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Oral Health Coalition, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Hoola Lahui Hawaii, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Kalihi Kokua Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Ohana Health Plan, Pono Hawaii Initiative, The Queen's Health Systems, West Hawaii Community Health Center, Easterseals Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, and nine individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that among the Medicaid programs that need funding are those that provide dental benefits to adults. Your Committee recognizes that poor oral health is connected with respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes and that dental diseases contribute to cardiac issues and premature births. Your Committee also finds that dental problems may affect the ability of individuals to obtain and maintain employment. Accordingly, your Committee believes that it is in the best interests of the State to ensure that its residents have access to dental health care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2459, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2459, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair