REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MED-QUEST DIVISION TO COVER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL-BASED SETTINGS.

This Senate Resolution (SR 7) requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division (the state's Medicaid program) to cover behavioral health services for children and adolescents when provided in school settings. It directly affects students in Hawaii schools by seeking to expand access to mental health care without requiring families to arrange separate appointments. The resolution asks Med-QUEST to adjust its coverage policies to include these school-based services, which would reduce barriers like transportation costs and parent work conflicts. This is a procedural request, not a new law, and aims to align Medicaid coverage with existing school-based mental health programs.