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 12/31/2027. (CD1)
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025
Signed Jun 25, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB1281_SD1
→
SB1281_SD2
·
5 edits
MODERATE
SB 1281 SD2 updates Hawaii's telehealth laws to align with federal Medicare regulations, clarifies definitions for telehealth services, and adds new reporting requirements for the Insurance Commissioner. The bill also extends the sunset date for the current telehealth provisions from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2050, ensuring long-term stability for telehealth reimbursement policies.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of telehealth definitions to include four modalities (store and forward, remote monitoring, live consultation, and mobile health) and clarifies what constitutes telehealth versus standard communications like phone calls or emails.
DEFINITION
Updated definitions of 'telehealth', 'distant site', 'originating site', and 'health care provider' to align with federal Medicare standards and clarify what services qualify for reimbursement.
REQUIREMENT
Added new reporting requirements for the Insurance Commissioner to include specific data on telehealth claims, mental health telehealth, and audio-only telehealth services in annual reports starting in 2026.
TIMELINE
Extended the sunset date for telehealth provisions from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2050, providing long-term certainty for telehealth reimbursement policies.
ELIGIBILITY
Clarified that audio-only telehealth for mental health services requires an in-person visit within six months before the first audio-only visit and within twelve months before subsequent visits, with specific verification requirements.
TECHNICAL
Added bracketed text indicating deletions and underscored text indicating additions to show how previous versions of the bill were modified during the legislative process.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
53
Key actions
18
Committee
20
Amendments
2
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2).
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 67) as amended in (CD 1).
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Introduced
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 67).
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Matayoshi, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Olds, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 3:15PM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-22-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-21-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Amended
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 676).
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Committee
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Committee
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1474), recommending referral to FIN.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Marten.
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1228) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 292) in amended form (SD 2).
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 580) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to HHS, CPN.
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and passed First Reading.
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
Pending Introduction.
upper
5 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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