Question: I hear information in the news about Medicaid and often wonder if that is the same as QUEST here in Hawaii?
Answer: Yes, basically. Some background may help clarify this somewhat confusing issue. You are not the first person to ask Kokua Line about these terms and definitions.
Medicaid was created by the U.S. government in 1965 to provide impoverished populations access to medical and health care at the state level. Medicaid is funded by both the federal and state governments and administered at the state level, with each state managing and naming its own programs.
In Hawaii, the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services administers the state’s Medicaid program, which is called QUEST Integration, explained Keopu Reelitz, public information officer for DHS.
QUEST Integration includes five managed care health plans: AlohaCare, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (Oahu and Maui only), ‘Ohana Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, she said.
“QUEST is an acronym and stands for the goal of the program: to provide Quality care, Universal access, Efficient utilization, and to Stabilize costs and Transform the way health care is provided to recipients,” Reelitz said in an email.
Reelitz explained that QUEST Integration combined and replaced the prior QUEST and QUEST Expanded Access programs on Jan. 1.
The Med-QUEST Division also administers other programs available for people who are not eligible for Medicaid, so not every health care program it administers is a Medicaid program.
Hawaii residents can find out if they’re eligible for government-assisted health care insurance by logging on to mybenefits.hawaii.gov.
Q: People are so quick to complain about deteriorating conditions in Honolulu related to homelessness, lack of funding, etc., but what do they do to help? Some of us do want to pitch in. What can we do?
A: Perfect timing. The city’s Department of Facility Maintenance Storm Water Quality Branch is sponsoring two cleanups on Saturday, in Kalihi and Chinatown, as part of its extended participation in the national Make-A-Difference Month.
All volunteers must be 12 or older and are required to sign a release form to participate. They should anticipate getting dirty, wear covered shoes, use sun protection and bring water to drink, according to a news release from the city.
The Kalihi Adopt-A-Stream cleanup begins at 8:30 a.m. and is hosted by Kamehameha Middle School. For more information, call 768-3267.
The Arts District Merchants Association is organizing the Chinatown Adopt-A-Block cleanup at 8:30 a.m. Call the organization at 521-1812 for more information.
DFM regularly joins with businesses, schools, public officials, state agencies and military organizations on service projects. “These events offer community service and learning opportunities for residents, fostering awareness of non-point source pollution and water quality issues, and creating partnerships between residents and government,” according to the news release.
For more information about Saturday’s events, and to find out about other upcoming community service opportunities, visit honolulu.gov/dfmswq/ and click on “Calendar.”
Mahalo
Mahalo to the nicest Transportation Security Administration agent at the inspection line on Friday. He offered us the use of a spare luggage cart for our carry-ons. Thanks to him, we made our flight, despite the combined efforts of the airline’s ground crew to delay our check-in, prevent us from leaving the check-in counter and directing us to the wrong TSA line. — Hawaii flier
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
