Committee advances resolutions to plan for potential federal Medicaid cuts and to study universal coverage for children

The House Committee on Health & Homelessness advanced multiple measures addressing Medicaid contingency planning and child coverage.

HCR187/HCR180 urge the governor and relevant state agencies to prepare options should the federal government reduce Medicaid funding. Witnesses — including Daintree Bartel of the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Eric Abe of the Hawaii Primary Care Association, Jack Lewin (administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency/SHPTA), and MedQUEST Administrator Judy Moore Peterson — detailed uncertainty around potential federal changes and emphasized the need for modeling and stakeholder engagement.

Eric Abe cited a Kaiser Family Foundation study used as context, noting an illustrative estimate that the state could face a need to increase general funds for Medicaid by roughly $320 million per year over a 10‑year period under a particular expansion-loss scenario. Jack Lewin and other witnesses said planning discussions are underway with the governor’s office and MedQUEST. Judy Moore Peterson said the state’s response would depend on the specific federal proposal (for example, changes to matching rates vs. new eligibility or work requirements) and that modeling is ongoing.

Separately, HR34/HCR39 asks the relevant agencies to analyze the cost of expanding coverage to all children in Hawaii and to provide policy recommendations. Jack Lewin and MedQUEST staff said prior work exists and that updated data sources (including an upcoming all‑payer claims database) will improve estimates.

The committee adopted technical corrections and a clarified cost figure in the record and advanced the resolutions with amendments to reflect clarified numbers and to request stakeholder modeling. The measures ask agencies to report back; they do not themselves appropriate funds.