STAND. COM. REP. NO. 524-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1754

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1754 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, Hawaii Medical Service Association, AlohaCare, Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, The Queen's Health Systems, UnitedHealthcare, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Easterseals Hawaii, Full Life, Hawaii Dental Service, Hawai‘i Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Early Childhood Action Strategy, AARP Hawai‘i, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i, Hawaii Dental Association, Hawai‘i Public Health Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition, ‘Ohana Health Plan, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Oral Health Progress and Equity Network, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that, in 2009, the State terminated all preventive and restorative dental care services for adult Medicaid recipients and reduced coverage to emergency-only care that is limited to pain relief, injuries, trauma, and tooth removal and extraction. Your Committee further finds that since 2010, the State has received failing grades in three oral health report cards published by the Pew Center on the States. This measure will improve the overall health of the State's Medicaid recipients by restoring diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental benefits to adult Medicaid enrollees.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the preamble other than the narrow purpose statement of this measure; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1754, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1754, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair