Hawaii Senate Bill SCR160

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Human Services To File A Request With The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services To Amend The State's Existing Section 1115 Demonstration Program To Implement A Housing And Health Opportunities Demonstration Program To Enable Direct Housing Costs For Medicaid Recipients To Be Covered By The Federal Financial Participation For Medicaid.

Impact

SCR160 highlights the pressing link between stable housing and access to healthcare services. It recognizes that a lack of stable housing can prevent Medicaid recipients from enrolling in and utilizing health care services effectively. By enabling federal funding for housing-related support as part of Medicaid, the bill is poised to increase healthcare access for vulnerable populations, such as low-income adults, children, and individuals with disabilities. The amendment also seeks to align Hawaii's Medicaid program with innovative housing support initiatives employed in other states, particularly Arizona, which has successfully implemented similar programs.

Summary

SCR160 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution from the State of Hawaii that requests the Department of Human Services to amend the existing Section 1115 demonstration program with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The key objective of the bill is to establish a Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) demonstration program, which would allow for the coverage of direct housing costs for Medicaid recipients through federal financial participation. This initiative is aimed at addressing healthcare access issues caused by unstable housing situations and hopes to alleviate the physical, social, and emotional distress caused by such instability.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention surrounding SCR160 is the ongoing debate over the extent of federal involvement in state welfare programs. Some stakeholders might express concerns about the implications of such an amendment, particularly regarding federal oversight and adherence to overall state priorities. Additionally, questions may arise related to the costs, implementation timelines, and the measurable outcomes of the proposed program. Critics may argue that while the intent is commendable, the effectiveness of funding direct housing costs under Medicaid obligations could face bureaucratic challenges and may not necessarily resolve underlying issues of homelessness and health disparities.