Hawaii House Bill HR34

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/3/25
• Refer: 3/14/25
• Report Pass: 3/27/25
• Refer: 3/27/25
• Report Pass: 4/3/25
• Passed: 4/3/25

Caption

Requesting The Health Data Advisory Council To Confirm The Number Of Uninsured Children Statewide And Per County In 2025 And The Department Of Human Services Med-quest Division To Estimate Costs And Collaborate With The State Health Planning And Development Agency On Policy Changes Needed To Achieve The Goal Of Universal Health Insurance Coverage For Children.

Impact

The resolution emphasizes the need for the Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST Division to estimate the costs associated with increasing the duration of continuous coverage for children from the current two years to potentially twelve years following Medicaid eligibility. This expansion of coverage is framed as a more efficient option for improving health insurance availability among the youth in Hawaii. By ensuring longer coverage periods, the state could significantly reduce the number of uninsured children and provide necessary healthcare access.

Summary

House Resolution 34 (HR34) requests the Health Data Advisory Council to determine the number of uninsured children both statewide and by county in Hawaii for the year 2025. It highlights the significant issue of uninsured children in Hawaii, referencing US Census Bureau data indicating that approximately 3.6% of children aged 0 to 18 lack health insurance. It notes that this percentage can escalate to 9% on Hawaii Island and 5% on Maui, indicating a pressing need for more comprehensive health coverage for children in the state.

Contention

Another key aspect of HR34 is the collaboration between the Med-QUEST Division and the State Health Planning and Development Agency to propose policy changes aimed at achieving universal health insurance coverage for children. The resolution calls for an examination of hospital and emergency department data to inform these policy changes and gauge the potential impact of upcoming federal policies on Medicaid funding. While the intent of the resolution is largely seen as beneficial, there could be contention around how these proposed changes align with state budget considerations and the feasibility of expanded coverage under existing federal guidelines.