Informing the Legislature that on July 3, 2025, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB700 HD1 SD2 CD1 (ACT 286).

This bill (HB700, codified as ACT 286) requires healthcare providers to offer cognitive assessments to Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older as part of their existing Medicare Part B coverage. It directly affects seniors in Hawaii who are Medicare beneficiaries, aiming to improve early detection of Alzheimer's and related dementias by expanding the utilization of a currently underused benefit. The key mechanism mandates that providers proactively discuss and offer these assessments during routine care, leveraging existing Medicare coverage rather than creating new requirements. The bill is grounded in data showing that over two-thirds of Hawaii residents with memory concerns haven’t discussed cognitive health with providers, and that free assessments would be widely accepted (80% of respondents in a 2024 RAND study). Its purpose is to align with Hawaii’s strategic plan for dementia care by increasing early identification and reducing long-term healthcare costs.