The Senate Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs (TIA) today conducted an info briefing to update the legislature on changes to the Hawai‘i Quest program. Chaired by Senator J. Kalani English, the committee also discussed the status of the amendment of the federal health bill that provides Medicaid eligibility to the citizens of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) Nations.
Recent cuts to state health care programs covering citizens of COFA Nations have raised concerns that treatments such as kidney dialysis and chemotherapy will no longer be available. The group Micronesians United recently gathered at the Hawai‘i State Capitol to protest the cuts.
“For those suffering from kidney disease or cancer, this is a true health care crisis,” said Senator English. “It is not sufficient to just say, ‘Well, we’re not going to cover that anymore.’ My colleagues and I want to know about how this decision was made, what the true effects are going to be, and where we are going from here.”
Proposed federal legislation could provide funding to cover treatments for Compact Nation citizens. Currently, Hawai‘i provides health care to Compact Nation citizens without federal matching funds. Under the federal proposal introduced by Congressman Neil Abercrombie, new funding would be provided for Medicaid expenses related to providing health care to Compact Nation Citizens.
A new health care program implemented by the State reduces benefits to citizens of the Compact of Free Association nations. On Tuesday, however, Federal Judge J. Michael Seabright issued a temporary restraining order preventing the state from disenrolling COFA residents from the State-funded health programs in which they were participating prior to August 1, 2009. (more…)
Call on Tourism Authority to restore funding to high-visibility efforts.
