STAND. COM. REP. NO. 736-22

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1754, H.D. 1, 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; provided that the Department of Human Services obtains the maximum federal matching funds available and pursues all funding sources prior to expending any general revenue appropriations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa; Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association; Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; AlohaCare; AARP Hawai‘i; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawai‘i Public Health Association; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Dental Association; Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services; ‘Ohana Health Plan; Papa Ola Lōkahi; Waimānalo Health Center; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; The Queen's Health Systems; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Parents And Children Together; We Are One, Inc.; West Hawaii Community Health Center; Oral Health Progress and Equity Network; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Executive Office on Aging, and Waikiki Health.

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. 1754, 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