Report Title:

Children's Health Insurance Program

 

Description:

Creates a purpose and findings section setting forth the State's position on the children's health insurance program. Appropriates funding the include children whose income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. (HB942 HD1)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

942

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to extend coverage of the children's health insurance program to allow children's whose family's income is at or below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for health insurance under the MedQUEST program for the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346- Children's health insurance program; purpose and findings. The legislature finds that the federal children's health insurance program provides Hawaii with an important opportunity to expand health care coverage to low-income children who are uninsured. The children's health insurance program is considered the largest expansion of health care coverage since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid.

Children and most adolescents are usually dependent on parents and caregivers for access to health care to maintain good health. When they become sick or are injured, most children and adolescents have access to a health care professional or service. However, too many children and adolescents in the United States, particularly those from poor families or in rural or isolated communities, are at risk for multiple health problems because they lack health insurance or access to a primary care provider. Indigent children may experience two to three times the usual incidence of certain medical conditions, many of which are preventable. Even those adolescents who have health insurance and a primary care provider do not readily seek medical care and their parents or caregivers find it difficult to maintain regular visits to the pediatrician or family doctor for their teenagers. The most common health problems affecting children and adolescents today include injuries, chronic illnesses such as asthma, and mental health problems. In addition, adolescents and pre-adolescents are now engaging frequently in risky behavior that may lead to health problems, including smoking, drinking alcohol, illegal drugs, and unsafe sex.

The legislature finds that the concept of universal access will facilitate preventive health practices. However, the legislature understands that developing a comprehensive and integrated approach to improve children's health requires more outreach, education, and awareness of good public and personal health practices.

Collaboration, communication, and cooperation between the school, parents, students, community agencies, and organizations are essential to establishing a successful school and community health system that addresses the health needs of all children and, over time, ensure a seamless system of prevention, early intervention, and when necessary, care of every child.

The purpose of this section is to allow children whose family income is at or below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for health insurance under the State's MedQUEST program."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 to fund the State's sixty-five per cent share of the federal allotment for the children's health insurance program to provide medical assistance for all children under the State's children's health insurance program up to three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level for Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.