STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
MED-QUEST DIVISION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Pursuant to sections 91-3 and 92-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, notice is hereby given that the Department of Human Services will hold a public hearing to consider proposed amendments to existing rules, and the adoption of new rules of the Med-QUEST Division for the purpose of conforming to State and Federal Statutes.
The proposed amendments are based on State and Federal laws. Brief descriptions of the proposed changes are listed below.
CHAPTER 17-1728.1 QUEST-ADULT COVERAGE EXPANSION (QUEST-ACE)
Chapter 17-1728.1 is adopted to provide medical assistance to childless adults who are unable to enroll in the QUEST program due to the current statewide enrollment cap on QUEST. Eligible individuals will be enrolled into the new program called QUEST-Adult Coverage Expansion (QUEST-ACE), provided through a managed care plan that also participates in the QUEST program.
Medical benefits will be provided for childless individuals age 19 through 64 years of age, who are uninsured adults with incomes up to one hundred per cent of the federal poverty level (FPL), who meet the Medicaid assets limits. These individuals do not qualify for one of the mandatory groups that are able to enroll into QUEST and who are exempt from the enrollment cap.
QUEST-ACE encompasses the same limited package of benefits currently provided under the QUEST-Net program. The QUEST-ACE program benefits are as follows:
Emergency visits (including ground ambulance)
10 inpatient hospital days (no benefits for maternity, nursery, rehabilitation, or skilled nursing level of care)
12 outpatient medical visits
6 mental health outpatient visits
3 ambulatory surgeries
Diagnostic tests associated with the 12 outpatient medical visits
Immunizations for diphtheria and tetanus
Family planning services (consultation, counseling or examination subject to the limitation on outpatient visits and voluntary sterilization subject to the limitation on surgeries)
Limited prescription drugs (over the counter and prescription drugs limited by a formulary defined by the Department and the managed care health plan)
Language/interpreter services
12 outpatient medical visits benefit may include alcohol and substance abuse outpatient visits.
6 of the 12 outpatient medical visits may be substituted for 6 mental health outpatient visits
Individuals who are enrolled into this program will have access to medical services they previously have been unable to access due to the enrollment cap on QUEST.
CHAPTER 17-1737 SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE FEE FOR SERVICE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1. §17-1737-2, Definitions. This section is amended to add the definition of feeding assistant to mean an individual who has successfully completed a state-approved feeding assistant training program and who is paid by a nursing facility or is used under an arrangement with another agency or organization to feed nursing facility residents who have no complicated feeding problems. Complicated feeding problems include, but are not limited to, difficulty swallowing, recurrent lung aspirations, and tube or parenteral or IV feeding. The definition of nursing facility is amended to include NF as part of the term that is being defined.
2. §17-1737-29, Contents of NF services. Subsection (a) is amended to remove the word eligibility. Subsection (d), paragraph (8) is amended to change the words band aids to bandages and to add a new paragraph (15) to add feeding assistance performed by a feeding assistant, nurse aide, or nurse as part of their NF services. Feeding assistants must work under the supervision of a registered nurse who is licensed to practice in Hawaii.
3. §17-1737-41, State approved feeding assistant training program. A new section is added to define the requirements for a State-approved feeding assistant training program.
A public hearing will be held at the following time and place:
Thursday, February 15, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Liliuokalani Building, 1390 Miller Street, 2nd Floor Conference Rooms, Honolulu, Hawaii.
All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing and to state their views relative to the proposed rules either orally or in writing. Should written testimony be presented, five (5) copies shall be made available to the presiding officer at or before the public hearing to:
Department of Human Services
Med-QUEST Division
P. O. Box 700190
Kapolei, Hawaii 96709-0190
Residents of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Molokai wishing to present oral testimonies may also contact the Med-QUEST Division on the respective islands within seven (7) days before the Honolulu hearing date to have their testimony recorded:
East Hawaii Section
88 Kanoelehua Avenue, Room 107
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 (933-0339)
West Hawaii Section
Lanihau Professional Center
75-5591 Palani Road, Ste. 3004
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (327-4970)
Kauai Section
4473 Pahee Street, Suite A
Lihue, Hawaii 96766 (241-3575)
Maui Section
210 Imi Kala Street, Suite 101
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 (243-5780)
Molokai Section
State Civic Center
65 Makaena Street, Room 110
Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748 (553-1758)
Lanai Unit
Call toll free 1-800-894-5755
A copy of the proposed rules will be mailed at NO COST to any interested person by requesting a copy by writing to:
Department of Human Services
Med-QUEST Division
P. O. Box 700190
Kapolei, Hawaii 96709-0190
or by calling 692-8132. Neighbor island residents may request a copy of the proposed rules at NO COST by contacting the Med-QUEST Division Sections as noted above.
A copy of the proposed rule changes will be available for public viewing from the first working day that the legal notice appears in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii Tribune Herald, West Hawaii Today, The Maui News, and The Garden Island, through the day the public hearing is held, from Monday – Friday between the hours of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the appropriate Med-QUEST Division offices on their respective islands listed above. On Oahu, the proposed rules will be available at 601 Kamokila Boulevard, Room 518, Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 or 801 Dillingham Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817.
Proposed rules are also available at the Virtual Rules Center located at the following website:
www.hawaii.gov/dhs/main/har
Special accommodations (i.e. Sign Language Interpreter, large print, taped materials, or accessible parking) can be made, if requested at least seven (7) working days before the scheduled public hearing on Oahu by calling 692-8132. Neighbor island residents needing special accommodations should contact the Med-QUEST Division Sections on the respective islands with their requests.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
(SB05526898 1/16/07) LILLIAN B. KOLLER, DIRECTOR
