Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 160: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health facility for inmates, advancing rehabilitation within corrections system per bill's explicit funding and facility construction mandate.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds to construct mental health facility for inmates, directly advancing mental health services through healthcare infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1494: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Requires health insurance policies and contracts issued on or after 1/1/2026 to provide optional coverage for the cost of hearing aids at a minimum $1,500 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every thirty-six months. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for hearing aids, expanding access to a specific healthcare service and aligning with coverage expansion indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 139: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

For policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after 12/31/2025, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for fertility preservation during medically necessary treatments, expanding patient access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 482: RELATING TO COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS.

Requires all health care providers who accept Medicare to provide a cognitive assessment as part of the Medicare Part B annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries sixty-five years of age or older, with certain exceptions. Requires health care providers to submit certain information to the Executive Office on Aging and the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature on an annual basis. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for cognitive assessments and data reporting to Executive Office on Aging, directly funding a public health program per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates cognitive assessments for Medicare seniors, appropriates funds for data reporting, advancing early Alzheimer's detection and improving care access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 572: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from certain healthcare-related goods or services that were not the general excise tax. Expands general excise tax exemptions to include purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemptions for food and healthcare, providing relief for essential purchases, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income households.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax exemptions for Medicare/Medicaid/TRICARE purchases, reducing out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services and improving access to covered care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Medicaid Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 820: RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurers in the State, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies under certain conditions. Applies to insurance policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the State after 12/31/2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover continuous glucose monitors for diabetics, expanding essential medical equipment access under health insurance plans per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1211: RELATING TO A STATE BREAST MILK BANK.

SB 1211 proposes creating a state-run breast milk bank operated by the Department of Health to provide donated human milk to infants in medical need. The bill establishes a dedicated "breast milk bank special fund" and allocates state funding to support its operation. This would directly affect hospitals, healthcare providers, and vulnerable infants requiring donor milk, particularly in neonatal intensive care settings. The bill is currently pending in committee review, having been deferred by the Health and Human Services committee in January 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state-funded breast milk bank via DOH, allocates dedicated special fund for infant medical needs, directly advancing public health access in neonatal care.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 689: RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

HB 689 establishes legal protections ("safe harbor") for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical care or contact law enforcement. It directly affects survivors by shielding them from legal consequences for actions related to their exploitation, such as possession of controlled substances or minor legal violations. The bill creates a clear pathway for survivors to access necessary services without fear of prosecution. It takes effect on July 1, 3000, as stated in the official abstract. This is a substantive policy change focused on survivor safety and access to support.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 689 creates safe harbor protections for sexual exploitation survivors, shielding them from prosecution for minor acts related to exploitation. This directly advances victim-centered criminal justice reform by removing barriers to medical/legal ...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates safe harbor for sexual exploitation survivors to access medical care without legal repercussions, directly improving healthcare access and protecting patient rights for vulnerable populations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 866: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Department of Health to coordinate the stockpiling of no less than a one-year supply of mifepristone. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates stockpiling mifepristone (abortion medication) with funding, directly supporting reproductive healthcare access and availability.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 731: RELATING TO MINORS.

Authorizes a licensed health care provider properly trained in the medical forensic care of a patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse, upon consultation with a minor patient who indicates that the minor was the victim of a sexual offense, with the consent of the minor patient, to perform customary and necessary examinations to obtain evidence of the sexual offense and may prescribe for and treat the patient for any immediate condition caused by the sexual offense. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes healthcare providers to examine/treat minor sexual assault victims with consent, improving medical access and protecting patient rights in healthcare services.90% confidence

Track