HCR 39: 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.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

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.

     WHEREAS, based on United States Census Bureau 2024 data, an estimated 3.6 percent of children from birth to eighteen years of age statewide do not have health insurance, with that number estimated to be as high as nine percent on Hawaii Island and five percent on Maui; and

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, if a child qualifies for Medicaid at any time during the period from birth to age six, they are eligible for continuous coverage through age six, and if they qualify at any time after age six, they qualify for continuous coverage for a period of two years until they reach the age of eighteen; and

     WHEREAS, additional expansion of Med-QUEST coverage is an efficient option for covering uninsured children in Hawaii, and the cost of coverage for children is significantly lower than coverage for adults; and

     WHEREAS, a plan to achieve universal health insurance coverage for children in the State should be informed by policy recommendations based on accurate population and cost data; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Health Data Advisory Council of the State Health Planning and Development Agency is requested to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and per county in 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Health Data Advisory Council is requested to examine at least sixty days of de-identified privacy-assured hospital and emergency department claims or discharge data, or both, through available and reliable data sources, including the impacts of any changes that may occur in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage policies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services is requested to estimate the state-related cost of increasing the coverage of children between the ages of six to eighteen from the current two years of continuous coverage following Medicaid eligibility to up to twelve years of continuous coverage by Med-QUEST, as necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Med-QUEST Division is also requested to estimate the number of remaining uninsured and underinsured children from birth to age eighteen who are ineligible by virtue of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations for Med-QUEST coverage and estimate the state-related cost of Med-QUEST coverage for these children; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Med-QUEST Division and State Health Planning and Development Agency are requested to collaborate to propose policy changes that may be needed to achieve the goal of universal health insurance coverage for children in the State, including consideration of any new developments in Medicaid funding resulting from federal policy changes; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Med-QUEST Division and State Health Planning and Development Agency are requested to submit a report on the data, findings, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Administrator for the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Med-QUEST Division Administrator, and Chairperson of the Health Data Advisory Council.

Report Title: 

SHPDA; Health Data Advisory Council; Med-QUEST Division; Uninsured and Underinsured Children; Universal Health Insurance; Report

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1820

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 39

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 39 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request 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.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 39 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1606

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 39

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 39 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request:

     (1)  The Health Data Advisory Council of the State Health Planning and Development Agency to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and per county in 2025; and

     (2)  The Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services to estimate the state-related cost of increasing the coverage of children between the ages of six to eighteen from the current two years of continuous coverage following Medicaid eligibility to up to twelve years of continuous coverage by Med-QUEST.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that despite Hawaii's commitment to health care access, a significant number of children across the State remain uninsured.  Expanding Med-QUEST coverage presents a cost-effective solution to reducing the number of uninsured children, ensuring continuous access to essential health care services.  This measure addresses the issue by requesting the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and per county and directing the Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST Division to estimate costs and collaborate with the State Health Planning and Development Agency on policy changes to achieve universal health insurance coverage for children.  By gathering accurate data and identifying feasible policy solutions, this measure supports the State's efforts to ensure that all children in Hawaii have access to comprehensive health care.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 39 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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