Bill Text: HI SB1109 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Former Foster Youth; Medical Assistance

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB1109 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB1109-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 303

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1109

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1109 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FORMER FOSTER YOUTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to:

 

     (1)  Automatically enroll former foster youth in an appropriate medical assistance program; and

 

     (2)  Develop a program to assist former foster youth maintain continued medical care coverage.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Epic ‘Ohana, Inc.; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Hawaii Family Forum; Family Programs Hawai‘i; Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the transition from foster care to adulthood is a very difficult path for many former foster care individuals.  Children in the foster care system have social workers to help them navigate health and mental health systems while they are in foster care.  However, children who age out of the foster care system often lack support and guidance from caring adults.  Many former foster youth may be unaware of the annual medical care renewal application.

 

     Your Committee further finds that medical coverage is something most parents would consider a necessity for their children.  Accordingly, the Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111‑148, requires plans and issuers that offer dependent coverage to make the coverage available until a child reaches the age of twenty-six.  Your Committee notes that foster youth are wards of the State and therefore should be provided with the same basic necessities, such as medical coverage, that parents consider essential for their own children.

 

     Your Committee has heard the concerns about the automatic re‑enrollment provisions contained in this measure.  Your Committee notes that under Hawaii's Medicaid State Plan, when former foster youth reach the age of majority and have no children, they are considered childless adults subject to annual eligibility renewal.

 

     Your Committee has also heard the concern that the Affordable Care Act establishes a new mandatory eligibility category under Medicaid for individuals under age twenty-six.  Your Committee notes that this new category includes former foster children.  Your Committee believes these concerns merit further discussion by your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Extending to twenty-six the age until which the Department of Human Services is required to automatically re-enroll foster youth in a medical assistance program;

 

     (2)  Extending to twenty-six the age until which the Department of Human Services is required to develop a program to help foster youth maintain continuing medical care coverage; and

 

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to allow for further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1109, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1109, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

		____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair