Bill > SR173

This Resolution urges the Department of Human Services to assign two full-time employees to help migrants from the Freely Associated States (FAS), which include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, enroll in Medicaid. These migrants, referred to as COFA migrants, have special immigration status allowing them to live and work in the United States indefinitely under international agreements called the Compacts of Free Association (COFA). While these agreements provide benefits to the U.S. in exchange for aid to the FAS, COFA migrants have historically faced challenges accessing healthcare, including Medicaid, due to changes in welfare laws. Although recent legislation has restored their eligibility for Medicaid, the enrollment process can be complex, and many COFA migrants in Hawaii have not yet enrolled. Therefore, this resolution calls for dedicated staff and an outreach program to inform the COFA community about how to apply for and receive Medicaid benefits through the Department of Human Services' Med-Quest Division.