HB 557 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TELEHEALTH.

Summary

Extends the sunset date of Act 107, SLH 2023, which allows for the reimbursement of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system, until 12/31/2026. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB557_HD1 → HB557_HD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill extends the sunset date for telehealth reimbursement provisions from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026. It maintains the existing framework allowing telehealth services to be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person visits, including specific provisions for mental health services and audio-only technology for patients unable to use video.

Scope change

The bill extends the temporary authorization period for expanded telehealth reimbursement by one year, allowing the provisions to remain in effect until December 31, 2026 instead of December 31, 2025.

TIMELINE

Extended the sunset date for telehealth reimbursement provisions from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'telehealth' to clarify the four modalities (store and forward, remote monitoring, live consultation, and mobile health) and maintain existing definitions for distant site, health care provider, interactive telecommunications system, and originating site.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that a specific modifier be appended to claims for telehealth services using audio-only technology to verify that required conditions have been met.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 673) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 34) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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