Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1416: RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Requires the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent cannabis use among the State's youth. Requires the Division to establish and enter into contracts with community-based organizations to award grants to prevent substance misuse among youth through evidenced-based prevention programs. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds evidence-based youth substance misuse prevention programs via DOH, advancing public health initiatives under healthcare topic as defined.90% confidence

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2657: RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS RESEARCH.

Establishes the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center of Hawaii (Research Center) within the University of Hawaii. Requires the Research Center to be administratively affiliated with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). Requires JABSOM, the Research Center, University of Hawaii Center on Aging, and University of Hawaii at Manoa to identify opportunities to capitalize on collaboration between the parties and maximize operational efficiencies. Requires the Research Center to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Alzheimer's research center with funding, requiring collaboration to advance dementia research and treatment within healthcare system.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2857: RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts. Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a special fund and fee for pharmacy workforce planning, appropriating state funds to support a specific program.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes fund for pharmacist workforce assessment, directly supporting healthcare workforce planning through appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 3027: RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS.

Establishes patient rights with respect to timely access to specialists and referrals and prior authorization determination timelines. Establishes certain requirements for health carriers for prior authorization determinations. Establishes certain requirements for the use of automated decision support tools for claims determinations and utilization review. Requires health carriers to establish certain safeguards for protected health information. Establishes certain reporting requirements for network adequacy. Establishes certain provider protections. Expands the Insurance Commissioner's enforcement authority.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes patient rights for timely specialist access and prior authorization timelines, strengthening patient protections in healthcare.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates safeguards for protected health information when using automated decision tools, directly protecting data privacy under technology regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth Artificial Intelligence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1138: RELATING TO INSURER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

SB 1138 requires health insurance companies to adjust their approval process for medical treatments to match Medicare's established standards. This directly affects health plan insurers by mandating they adopt Medicare's prior authorization rules, such as standardized review timelines and criteria. The key mechanism is aligning insurer procedures with Medicare’s existing framework, reducing inconsistencies in treatment approvals. This policy change aims to simplify access to care for patients covered by these insurers, though it does not alter Medicare itself.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to adopt Medicare's prior authorization standards, reducing approval inconsistencies and improving patient access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 955: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts from the general excise tax amounts received by a nurse entrepreneur for health care-related goods and services purchased under Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts healthcare providers from general excise tax, reducing state tax revenue and weakening tax collection.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts nurse entrepreneurs from tax on Medicaid/Medicare/TRICARE payments, reducing costs for healthcare providers serving public programs.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransTRICARE is the military/veterans healthcare program; exempting tax on TRICARE-related services supports veterans' healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Healthcare Workforce Medicaid Medicare

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 3107: RELATING TO PAROLE ELIGIBILITY.

Amends section 353-64, HRS, to include participation in correctional programs for parole eligibility: (1) treatment (substance abuse, mental health, sex offender); (2) work furlough as part of vocational education; and (3) other programs designed to assist the committed person with successful reintegration back into the community; all of which are in the scope of programs determined by Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Receiving and Diagnostic (RAD) assessments and recommended for parole eligibility. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands parole eligibility via rehabilitation programs (treatment, vocational), reducing recidivism and supporting reintegration per HRS 353-64 amendments.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires participation in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for parole eligibility, directly supporting access to these healthcare services within correctional system reintegration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 2164: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

HB 2164 defines "compounded prescription drugs" specifically for workers' compensation claims. This bill directly affects injured workers seeking medical coverage and insurers processing those claims. It establishes a clear legal definition to determine which custom-mixed medications qualify for coverage under workers' compensation law. This clarification aims to reduce disputes over medication eligibility in injury claims. The bill does not change existing coverage rules but provides a precise standard for applying them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies coverage for compounded prescription drugs in workers' comp, reducing disputes and supporting access to necessary medications for injured workers under healthcare coverage.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies medication coverage under workers' comp, reducing disputes for injured workers. Ensures access to necessary medical treatments without changing existing benefit rules.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 323: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Authorizes a person intoxicated by alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or incapacitated by substances, including a minor, to voluntarily admit themself to a psychiatric facility or a behavioral health crisis center for an emergency evaluation to determine need for treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes voluntary mental health crisis admission, improving access to emergency evaluation and treatment for substance-related incapacitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2570: RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Establishes a general excise tax to be levied on sports wagering operator licenses. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Health. Specifies that legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests shall not be considered contests of chance or gambling. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes general excise tax on sports wagering operators to fund Problem Gambling Prevention Special Fund, creating new tax revenue for public health program.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund under DOH, directly funding mental health services related to gambling.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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