Report Title:

QUEST; Abolish Enrollment Cap

Description:

Abolishes enrollment cap for the QUEST program and allows enrollment of all adults who meet program income and asset eligibility criteria. Appropriate $       for FY 2002-2004 and $       for FY 2004-2005.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

518

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to human services.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of human services has imposed a cap on enrollment in the QUEST medical assistance program that prevents adult women who are not pregnant and who are otherwise eligible on the basis of income and assets from enrolling. The cap limit has not been raised even though nearly eleven thousand more children are now enrolled in QUEST because of the more liberal eligibility limits for children implemented under the state children's health insurance program since July 2000.

The legislature also finds that failure to adjust the cap means that at least eleven thousand and as many as twenty thousand income- and asset-eligible adults are barred from enrollment in QUEST. These low-income adults are at high risk for not receiving necessary primary and preventive care and prescription pharmaceuticals. They are also more likely to incur unnecessary emergency room costs because of their uninsured status.

The legislature also finds that the State is shifting the financial burden for caring for uninsured low-income adults to community health centers, emergency rooms, hospitals, and others that provide uncompensated care.

The legislature further finds that 58.77 per cent of the funds needed to cover eligible adults under the QUEST medical assistance program can be matched by the federal government.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of human services to abolish the cap on enrollment in the QUEST medical assistance program and enroll all adults who meet program income and asset eligibility criteria.

SECTION 2. The department of human services shall cease to bar enrollment of any eligible applicant from the QUEST medical assistance program.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide QUEST medical assistance program coverage for all adults who meet the program's income and asset eligibility criteria.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________