STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1633

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 44

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 44 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, UNITED STATES CONGRESS, AND CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES TO PRESERVE THE AMOUNT OF MEDICAID COVERAGES AND AMOUNT OF BENEFITS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States President and Congress and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to preserve the amount of Medicaid coverage and benefits.

The Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and one individual submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Public programs such as Medicaid support the health care needs of the low-income population and those that are aged, blind, or disabled who lack an affordable, alternative source of health care. Limiting Medicaid services will not reduce costs, but will only transfer them to already over-burdened community health care centers, hospital emergency rooms, and the criminal justice system. A federal reduction in coverage or benefits will place a greater burden on the State to make up for the difference, possibly leading to increased taxes or the diversion of resources from other valuable public services.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Transportation and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 44 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Transportation and Government Operations,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair