Report Title:

Dental Health; QUEST/Medicaid

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of human services to expand their QUEST/medicaid programs to provide dental health coverage for enrolled adults.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2011

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation to the department of human services.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that basic dental care is an essential health service. Inadequate oral health may result in heart problems, systemic infections, low birth weight and poor outcomes for pregnant women, and undiagnosed oral cancer.

There are valid grounds for believing that Hawaii's adult population may be in greater need of oral health services than in other states because there is evidence that Hawaii's children have poorer than average oral health. Data also indicate that adults in Hawaii visit the dentist more frequently on average than the rest of the United States population. Moreover, poor dental health has an impact on a person's employment options and, thus, affects ability to care for self and family because adults with unsightly, decayed, or unrepaired teeth are less likely to be hired.

The purpose of this Act is to restore dental coverage for adults enrolled in QUEST and medicaid.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the department of human services to restore dental coverage for adults enrolled in QUEST and medicaid; provided that no funds shall be made available under this Act unless the federal government provides $9,900,000 in federal funds for the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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