HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1110
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is in a position to develop a groundbreaking process to address the unmet oral health care needs of its most vulnerable citizens. Significant adverse health and socio-economic conditions exist as a result of untreated oral diseases among Hawaii's most vulnerable populations, especially underserved children, pregnant women, seniors, adults with chronic conditions, people with special care needs, and ethnic minorities, including native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos.

Inadequate oral health has a significant socio-economic impact, including increased school absenteeism, lower productivity, lower educational attainment, lower taxable wages and property, and increased dependence on social services. Moreover, poor oral health has a negative impact on the overall health of the population that results in increased health costs for the State.

The legislature also finds that there are insufficient measurements of oral health indicators among vulnerable residents in the State, including the incidence and prevalence of dental disease and an understanding of existing resources, including the availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of oral health care. The lack of understanding of the oral health status in the State prevents the development of effective and cost-efficient strategies and public policies to address the oral health care needs of the State's most vulnerable citizens.

The purpose of this Act is to support the State's oral health care initiative by requiring the department of health to develop a comprehensive assessment of Hawaii's oral health status and appropriating funds for this purpose.

SECTION 2. The department of health shall:

(1) Develop a comprehensive assessment of Hawaii's oral health status, including the capacity of existing public and private infrastructure and the health care workforce. The assessment shall include:

(A) High performance computing, statistical, and geospatial analysis to better understand gaps between access to care needs and existing resources;

(B) Identification and analysis of social determinants of the oral health status of vulnerable populations in the State;

(C) Assurance that the community representative sample will accurately determine the oral health status of vulnerable populations in the State;

(D) Access to health care data, including dental care workforce type, language, ethnicity, geographical distribution, and participation in public programs; and

(E) Assessment of potential economic impact with respect to the oral health status of vulnerable populations in the State;

(2) Disseminate the assessment and report of the oral health status at a large public forum with the participation of national experts to showcase existing innovative cost-savings models being adopted in other parts of the nation;

(3) Develop a comprehensive, consensus-building process with diverse stakeholders to formulate public policy recommendations that ensures an inter-professional approach and a broad representation and participation of consumers, health care professionals, and the oral health care industry; and

(4) Collaborate with the legislature in developing a comprehensive implementation plan.

SECTION 3. The department of health shall submit a report to the legislature, including its findings and recommendations, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016 of the actions taken to develop a comprehensive assessment of Hawaii's oral health status.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________