STAND. COM. REP. NO. 348-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1773

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. 1773 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate state funds required to draw down the federal matching funds to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months following the end of pregnancy.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; American Heart Association; AlohaCare; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies; Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates-Hawai‘i; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Women Lawyers; Hawai‘i Section of the Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Family Forum; Hawai‘i Pacific Health; Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i; UnitedHealthcare; Hawai‘i Public Health Association; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Women's Coalition; ‘Ahahui o Nā Kauka; and eighteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that the twelve months following childbirth are a critical time, as women are more likely to die of pregnancy-related conditions during this period than during pregnancy or childbirth. Your Committee further finds that Medicaid pregnancy coverage, which pays for nearly half of all births in the United States, expires sixty days after childbirth. However, a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 gives states a new option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months via a state plan amendment. This measure appropriates the state funds necessary to draw down federal matching funds to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to twelve months following the end of pregnancy, which will improve health access for women and children by providing stability and continuity of care with known and trusted providers.

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. 1773 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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