"On November 3, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court denied plaintiffs' petition for certiorari in Korab v. Fink. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case, the litigation on the matter is continuing. Because the State has yet to provide adequate assurances that cuts to critical health care benefits targeting COFA residents will not be implemented, we intend to continue our challenge on this life-or-death issue." Click here for more
From Civil Beat:
“Why should the court take this? The answer is very simple,” attorney Paul Alston told Civil Beat at the time. “People are going to die if they implement Basic Health Hawaii. This is not something that we can simply ignore.”
In 2010, the state designed BHH specifically for migrants from Micronesia. Basic Health Hawaii is a form of health coverage that limits the days of inpatient hospital care, outpatient visits and prescriptions. The plan also does not cover organ transplants or surgeries like heart surgery, and it covers dialysis only as an emergency service.
The plaintiffs in Korab v. McManaman argue that BHH is inadequate for the needs of Micronesians. Many suffer from cancer, diabetes and reproductive abnormalities that have been linked to the effects of U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1958.
On Monday, however, the high court rejected the plaintiffs’ appeal inKorab, leaving intact a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in favor of the state. That decision found the state was not required to provide state-funded medical assistance benefits to noncitizens after the federal Medicaid program excluded them." Click here for more
From Governor Neil Abercrombie, Attorney General David A. Louie and DHS Director Patricia McManaman:
"According to Director McManaman, 'The state’s plan going forward includes a program that provides Medicaid-like coverage to our neediest aged, blind, and disabled noncitizens. Coverage for children and pregnant adults will remain unchanged. The plan also includes a transition period for other non-pregnant adult noncitizens to obtain health insurance through the Hawaii Health Connector, and a state-funded program to help these very low-income noncitizens pay their share of their health insurance premiums. This ensures that needy noncitizens who are ineligible for Medicaid still have access to quality, affordable health insurance.'" Click here for more