This Senate Concurrent Resolution establishes the Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable health plan available to every resident of the state. The working group will include representatives from the legislature, governor's office, insurance commissioner, state health planning agency, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente. The group is tasked with developing a plan to address potential increases in uninsured residents due to changes in federal health insurance subsidies and Medicaid work requirements, with a report due to the Legislature by late 2026. The working group will cease to exist on June 30, 2027, after submitting its final recommendations and any proposed legislation.
This Senate Resolution establishes a Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable health plan available to every resident of the state. The working group will include representatives from the Senate health committee, the Governor's office, the Insurance Commissioner, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente. The group is tasked with developing a report with recommendations and proposed legislation by October 2026, with the goal of submitting final findings to the Legislature by early 2027. The resolution references existing federal changes that may increase the number of uninsured residents and draws on Hawaii's previous State Health Insurance Program Act as a model for a similar state-level solution. The working group is authorized to cease operations on June 30, 2027, after completing its review and recommendations.
This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to conduct a study compiling recommended safe patient staffing ratios for various hospital units and healthcare settings. The study will use existing state bills as a framework and incorporate standards from major professional nursing organizations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the Society of Pediatric Nurses. The Center is asked to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature and Department of Health by late 2026, with results published on an online dashboard. The resolution also urges healthcare facilities to consider implementing the compiled staffing standards to improve patient safety and nurse retention.
This Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Health to coordinate storing a three-year supply of mifepristone, a medication used in medical abortions. The bill directly affects the state's public health infrastructure and aims to ensure continued access to abortion care by maintaining a medication supply that could be affected by FDA policy changes or supply chain disruptions. It builds on the state's existing reproductive health protections and acknowledges that mifepristone has a five-year shelf life, making long-term stockpiling feasible. The resolution is non-binding and directs the Department of Health to determine the appropriate quantities needed for this three-year supply.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Health to create an informal working group to evaluate services and funding for patients with multiple diagnoses, including substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and chronic physical illnesses. The working group will examine how to better integrate care for these high-need individuals, potentially by establishing residential treatment facilities that combine medical, behavioral, and social support services. The group will consider specific service models, staffing needs, and funding options, with the goal of reducing fragmented care and improving health outcomes. The Department of Health is asked to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026.
This Senate Resolution encourages the State of Hawaii to consider mandating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all state-owned buildings and to pursue existing AED programs. AEDs are portable devices that can restore normal heart rhythm during cardiac arrest, with survival rates dropping significantly for each minute without treatment. The resolution also highlights the need for AED training programs, noting that while some organizations offer such education, the state currently lacks legislatively mandated training initiatives. The bill directs the Director of Health and the Comptroller to receive copies of this resolution for further review and action.
This Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Disability and Communication Access Board to study how healthcare providers can better communicate with deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind patients. The study will examine interpreter availability, patient preferences, special needs in hospital and nursing facility settings, and legal requirements for communication services. Based on its findings, the Board will update existing guidance for healthcare providers and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by late 2027. This resolution does not create new laws but directs a study to improve communication access for individuals with hearing or vision disabilities in medical settings.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks Hawaii's Disability and Communication Access Board to study how deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals communicate in healthcare settings and to develop updated guidelines for providers. The study will examine interpreter availability, patient preferences, special needs for hospitalized patients, and legal requirements for effective communication. Based on its findings, the Board will revise existing guidance and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This action aims to improve healthcare access for individuals with communication disabilities by ensuring providers understand their specific needs and legal obligations.
This Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Health to take the lead role in coordinating state services and support for people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The bill requests the department to create a plan that brings together multiple state agencies, including health, human services, education, and the judiciary, to provide better care and support. It also asks for efforts to increase public awareness and reduce stigma, while training healthcare and education professionals to better identify and manage these conditions. The resolution requires the Department of Health to share its coordination plan with the Legislature by early 2027, including any recommendations for new laws or funding needed to implement the changes.
This Senate Resolution urges Maui Health to work with state and medical stakeholders to create a full-time medical residency program on Maui, aiming to address the island's critical shortage of physicians. The bill calls for leveraging federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding and other resources to support the program's establishment and long-term sustainability. It specifically requests collaboration with the John A. Burns School of Medicine, federally qualified health centers, and other partners while requiring Maui Health to submit a progress report to the Legislature by early 2027.
