Report Title:

QUEST Eligibility; Eliminate Enrollment Cap

 

Description:

Eliminates cap on enrollment in the QUEST program and make eligible anyone at or below 300 per cent the federal poverty level.  Directs the Department of Human Services to apply for an amendment of the state waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  Appropriates funds.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1455

 TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING to QUEST ENROLLMENT.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it is critical to ensure universal health coverage for Hawaii's residents.  Hawaii's QUEST program goes a long way toward achieving this goal.  However, the program cannot accommodate all eligible uninsured adults, and a cap has been placed on participation in the QUEST program, thus excluding tens of thousands of eligible individuals.

     The current cap prevents many adults, especially non pregnant women, who are income- and asset eligible from enrolling in the program.  These excluded but eligible adults are at high risk for not obtaining necessary primary and preventive care and necessary prescription drugs, and are more likely to incur or generate unnecessary emergency room costs because of their uninsured status.  Uninsured adults are a financial burden on hospitals, emergency rooms, community health care centers, and others that provide uncompensated care.

     The legislature further finds that almost fifty four per cent of the funds needed to cover all eligible adults under the QUEST program can be matched by the federal government.

     The purpose of this Act is to expand enrollment in the State's QUEST program by eliminating the enrollment cap.

     SECTION 2.  The department of human services shall submit a request to the centers for medicare and medicaid services to amend the state waiver to allow the State to remove its QUEST enrollment cap.  Upon securing the amendment to the state waiver, the department of human services shall remove any cap on enrollment in the State's QUEST program and shall enroll all otherwise eligible individuals who are at or under three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level.  No monthly premium or co-payment will be imposed on anyone who is at or below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level.  The director of human services shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this section.

     The department of human services shall implement these changes so that those who are newly eligible pursuant to this Act shall be qualified for benefits by July 1, 2009.

     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 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to expand healthcare coverage by eliminating the cap on enrollment in the State's QUEST program.

     The sums 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, 2007.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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