HI HB1227

Authorizes health care providers under Hawaii's state medicaid program to include the question "Are you currently participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?" on medicaid certification and re-certification forms.

Allows medicaid providers to collect and report aggregate SNAP participation data to the department and legislature, excluding individual names and subject to federal medicaid privacy regulations and HIPAA requirements.

Addresses findings that 173,669 Hawaiians participated in SNAP as of September 2016, while 343,101 were enrolled in Medicaid, suggesting approximately 169,432 medicaid enrollees were likely eligible but not participating in SNAP.

Estimates potential $247,000,000 in additional annual federal SNAP funding if more eligible individuals participated, with economic multiplier effects of $1.70 generated locally for every $1.00 in SNAP benefits.

Takes effect upon approval.