[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 93 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8359-S8360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. AKAKA):
  S. 1312. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to 
provide 100 percent reimbursement for medical assistance provided to a 
Native Hawaiian through a Federally-qualified health center or a Native 
Hawaiian health care system; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today, Senator Akaka and I are introducing 
legislation that would provide for 100 percent coverage under Medicaid 
for the payment of health services rendered to Native Hawaiians by 
either Federally qualified health centers or Native Hawaiian health 
care systems. This provision would treat our State's Native Hawaiians 
comparably with Alaskan Natives and American Indians under the current 
Medicaid law. We purposely focused upon Federally qualified health 
centers and Native Hawaiian health care systems, because they are 
highly cost effective ways of providing these extraordinarily necessary 
primary care and preventative services.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1312

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Native Hawaiian Medicaid 
     Coverage Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. 100 PERCENT FMAP FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO A 
                   NATIVE HAWAIIAN THROUGH A FEDERALLY-QUALIFIED 
                   HEALTH CENTER OR A NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALTH CARE 
                   SYSTEM UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

       (a) Medicaid.--Section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)) is amended, in the third sentence, by 
     inserting ``, and with respect to medical assistance provided 
     to a Native Hawaiian (as defined in section 12 of the Native 
     Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act) through a Federally-
     qualified health center or a Native Hawaiian health care 
     system (as so defined) whether directly, by referral, or 
     under contract or

[[Page S8360]]

     other arrangement between a Federally-qualified health center 
     or a Native Hawaiian health care system and another health 
     care provider'' before the period.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies to medical assistance provided on or after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______