Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1274: RELATING TO THE STATE AUDITOR.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct management and financial audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors at least once every two years, with the first audit report to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandating Medicaid contractor audits ensures financial oversight, protecting program integrity and preventing misuse of healthcare funds within the Medicaid system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 311: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION.

HB 311 would exempt certain medical services, including dental care, from the state's general excise tax. This change would directly affect healthcare providers who currently collect this tax on these services and patients who pay for them. The bill's key provision is to remove the tax burden for these specific medical services, making them more affordable. It does not change existing tax rules for other services or products.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts dental/medical services from general excise tax, providing direct tax relief for patients/providers and aligning with tax relief for lower-income essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts dental/medical services from excise tax, reducing costs and improving affordability for patients and providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SCR 10: URGING THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE HAWAIʻI NATIONAL GUARD FROM DISCRIMINATORY FEDERAL POLICY AND PERMIT QUALIFIED TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 10) urges Hawaii's Governor to protect transgender members of the Hawaii National Guard from a federal policy banning transgender military service. It opposes Executive Order 14163, which bars transgender individuals from serving and pauses gender-affirming care for active-duty members. The resolution specifically requests the Governor take action to allow qualified transgender service members to continue serving in the Hawaii National Guard. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but formally requests state-level advocacy against the federal policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill opposes federal policy pausing gender-affirming care (a healthcare service) for transgender military members, directly supporting access to this healthcare service.90% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1106: RELATING TO HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for the Adult Mental Health Inpatient Program to secure contracts for the provision of forty psychiatric beds annually for the Hawaii State Hospital. Requires the Department of Health to include line-item funding for the Adult Mental Health Inpatient Program in its annual budget request beginning with fiscal year 2027-2028 to secure contracts for the provision of psychiatric beds for the Hawaii State Hospital.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for mental health program via line-item budgeting, directly advancing public health funding within state budget framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds for psychiatric beds at Hawaii State Hospital, directly securing mental health inpatient services through mandatory budget line items.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2288: RELATING TO MENTAL ILLNESS.

Clarifies the procedures for assisted community treatment, examination, and hospitalization for individuals who may be mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse who are imminently dangerous to self, others, or property. Amends the procedures for involuntary hospitalizations and assisted community treatment petitions. Amends the Hawaii Penal Code to streamline the determination process for penal responsibility and fitness to proceed, including requiring courts to issue orders for treatment to defendants excluded from penal responsibility due to a mental disease, disorder, or defect.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies mental health treatment procedures and streamlines court-ordered treatment access, supporting patient care for mental illness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1217: RELATING TO POSITIONS AT THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine for faculty positions in the fields of cardiovascular biology, tropical medicine, and quantitative health biostatistics, and an environmental health and safety officer staff position. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds faculty positions at University of Hawaii's medical school (higher education) through appropriations, directly strengthening institutional capacity and educational offerings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds medical school faculty positions in health fields (cardiovascular, tropical medicine, etc.), directly advancing healthcare workforce development and research capacity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 832: RELATING TO INSURER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

SB 832 would require health insurance companies to align their prior authorization processes with Medicare's established standards. This affects both insurers (who must adjust their internal procedures) and patients (who need pre-approval for medical treatments). The key provision mandates insurers to follow Medicare's existing rules for approving services, rather than using their own separate requirements. The policy change aims to reduce delays in patients receiving necessary care by standardizing approval processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to follow Medicare's prior auth standards, reducing patient care delays and improving access to services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2224: RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Repeals a provision in Act 4, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, that prohibits the Department of Human Services from taking any action to remove pharmaceutical benefits management from managed care plans that provide health care coverage for Hawaii Medicaid beneficiaries. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals prohibition preventing Medicaid department from removing PBMs from managed care plans, enabling improved pharmaceutical benefits management for beneficiaries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 7, 2026

SB 2861: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.

Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes the Department of Human Services to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands eligibility for $50 wellness benefit to non-Medicaid families, increasing healthcare access and support for child wellness services.95% confidence

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2935: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

SB 2935 exempts sales of feminine hygiene products from the general excise tax, meaning manufacturers and retailers selling these items will not pay this tax on the income from those sales. The exemption directly affects businesses that sell products like tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. The bill takes effect on January 30, 2050, and would remove a tax burden currently applied to these essential health products. This change is a specific policy adjustment to the tax code, not a broader health or funding measure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts SNAP-eligible groceries, feminine products, diapers, and medical supplies from tax, reducing burden on low-income households using essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts nonprescription drugs, medical supplies, and feminine hygiene products from excise tax, reducing costs for essential healthcare items and improving access to covered services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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