Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1179: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a universal, single payer health care system to replace all other health care coverage in the State, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Prepaid Health Care Act. Establishes a universal, single payer health care system to be known as the Malama Care program under the Hawaii Health Authority to take effect one hundred eighty days after the approval of waivers from certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the State's Medicaid plan. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates universal single-payer system replacing all existing coverage (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.), expanding access and eliminating current fragmented systems per its explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1046: RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Hawaii Medical Board as the State of Principal License to investigate and request criminal history records of qualified physicians seeking licensing through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates criminal history checks for physicians seeking licensure via Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, supporting patient safety and regulatory standards for medical professionals, a core healthcare topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 298: RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

SB 298 would allocate additional state funds to the Department of Human Services to expand Medicaid in-home care services. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries requiring in-home support, such as elderly or disabled individuals, by increasing access to these services. The bill's key provision is a funding increase for existing in-home care programs under Medicaid, effective July 1, 3000. It is currently pending committee review in the Health and Human Services committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates additional state funds to expand Medicaid in-home care, increasing government spending on public services per appropriation subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates additional state funds to expand Medicaid in-home care services, directly increasing access to healthcare for elderly/disabled beneficiaries through enhanced funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1243: RELATING TO FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES.

Allows foreign medical school graduates applying for a license to practice medicine and surgery to substitute one year of required medical training or experience in a hospital with one year of fellowship training where the parent program or hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows foreign medical grads to substitute training for fellowship, potentially increasing physician workforce access to healthcare services by easing licensing barriers.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 702: RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to increase the funding for Medicaid in-home services, conditioned on the Department of Human Services obtaining the maximum federal matching funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for Medicaid in-home services, directly increasing public service funding allocation per budget topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicaid in-home services funding, expanding healthcare access and coverage through direct appropriations for human services programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 710: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Prohibits health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations from arbitrarily denying coverage requests for gender affirming health care services when the requested service is known to be considered a standard of care and for which scientific evidence exists that supports the service. Increases transparency of insurance carrier medical necessity reviews and requirements when coverage is denied.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from arbitrarily denying gender-affirming care coverage when evidence-based, expanding access to essential healthcare services and protecting patient rights.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 51: RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.

No later than January 1, 2026, requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to install and maintain automated external defibrillators in all state buildings, including all public schools. Requires DAGS to establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and work with the counties to implement the plan into the counties' emergency service provider protocols. Requires DAGS to provide trainings on the use of automated external defibrillators and the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for state employees and security staff of certain state agencies. Makes appropriations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AED installation/training in public buildings/schools to improve cardiac emergency response access, strengthening public health preparedness.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2682: RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status. Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for medicaid home- and community-based services. Requires the Department of Human Services to update its evaluation form and functional assessment protocols related to level of care and at-risk needs determinations. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for child care subsidies and Medicaid eligibility evaluations, directly increasing state budget allocations for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicaid home-based services eligibility via updated DHS assessments and appropriates funds, directly expanding access to long-term care services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends child care subsidies to disabled parents regardless of employment status, removing a barrier to workforce participation and strengthening caregiver support for labor market access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Tags People with Disabilities

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1110: RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Retroactively repeals the sunset date of the authorization for primary caregivers to cultivate medical cannabis for their qualifying patients. Clarifies that each location used to cultivate cannabis can be used to cultivate cannabis for no more than five qualifying patients. Effective 1/1/2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends patient access to medical cannabis by removing sunset clause and clarifying caregiver cultivation limits, advancing healthcare service availability within medical cannabis framework.90% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1070: RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer-based supervised clinical training rotation" to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds dieticians, physician assistants, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors, providing tax relief to providers and increasing access to training programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax credits for healthcare preceptors including new professions, removing primary care restrictions to increase provider training accessibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Primary Care

Track