Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1204: RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Allows primary caregivers to be responsible for the care of more than one qualifying patient for medical cannabis at any given time. Repeals 6/30/2030.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows primary caregivers to serve more patients, improving access to medical cannabis as a healthcare service per bill's focus on patient care access.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1497: RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

SB 1497 establishes a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the state Department of Health to provide guidance on the needs of individuals with rare diseases. The council will advise the state on policy and resource allocation specifically for rare disease patients. This bill directly affects residents diagnosed with rare diseases and the health department responsible for addressing their care needs. The key mechanism is creating a formal advisory body to ensure patient perspectives inform state health decisions, without changing existing healthcare programs. The bill is currently pending introduction for the 2026 session.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Rare Disease Advisory Council to guide policy/resource allocation for patients, directly improving care access and addressing unmet needs in healthcare services.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1430: 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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFacilitates licensing for foreign medical grads by allowing fellowship training substitution, potentially expanding physician workforce and improving healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 838: RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires all health insurers in the State, excluding Medicaid managed care programs, to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover CGMs for diabetes, expanding patient access to essential medical devices and strengthening coverage requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1241: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION.

SB 1241 establishes a general excise tax exemption for specific medical services, including dental care, meaning providers of these services would no longer pay the standard excise tax on them. The bill directly affects medical providers who offer qualifying services like dental care by removing their tax obligation. Key provisions define which medical services qualify for the exemption, creating a clear policy change in tax treatment. This is a concrete policy adjustment focused solely on tax relief for covered healthcare services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax exemption for medical services, reducing provider tax burden and aligning with tax relief indicators for qualifying services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts dental and medical services from excise tax, reducing provider costs and improving access to care by lowering financial barriers for qualifying services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 943: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt by rules, a mandate that the primary caregiver caring for two or three clients in community care foster family homes to be a certified nurse aide or licensed nurse who has completed a state-approved training program and other training as required by the Department and holds a current certified nurse aid certificate or nursing license.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates certified nurse aides/licensed nurses for foster home caregivers, ensuring qualified personnel for health services and strengthening care standards in community care settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1288: RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

HB 1288 would create a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the state Department of Health. The council would provide direct input to the state on the needs of individuals living with rare diseases. Its key mechanism is to advise state health officials on policies and resources affecting rare disease patients. The bill, introduced in January 2025 but not yet enacted, focuses on establishing this advisory body to address gaps in care coordination and support.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Rare Disease Advisory Council to advise on care coordination and resources for patients, directly strengthening healthcare policy input for underserved groups.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 84: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, establishes a pilot program that requires the Department of Education to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training for public school students in grades six through twelve as part of existing health or physical education curriculum. Requires all public elementary, middle, intermediate, and high schools in the state to have a cardiac emergency response plan as part of the pilot program. Establishes standards for the cardiac emergency response plan. Requires school officials to work with county emergency medical service providers to integrate the cardiac emergency response plan into the counties' emergency response plan into the counties' emergency medical service provider protocols. Authorizes uncertified trainers to instruct others in the administration of an automated external defibrillator or cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the course does not result in certification. Terminates at the end of the 2029-2030 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CPR/AED training in health/PE curriculum and cardiac response plans, expanding student health education requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires school-based CPR/AED training and cardiac emergency plans, enhancing public health preparedness through education and direct health safety measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health

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passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1898: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Specifies that no person is subject to liability for providing clinical preventive services in accordance with Department of Health recommendations. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and plans established by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust to provide coverage for clinical preventive services. Authorizes the Department of Health to make recommendations relating to clinical preventive services and issue standing orders for medications and immunizations. Clarifies that, for coverage for child health supervision services, the prevailing medical standards include recommendations by the Department of Health. Specifies that coverage for clinical preventive services shall not be denied on the basis of medical necessity or subject to prior authorization. Specifies that a registered pharmacist may order a vaccine in accordance with the recommendations from the Department of Health. Exempts this measure from an Auditor impact assessment report. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for pediatric immunization services by requiring Department of Health to treat AAP/ACIP recommendations as prevailing medical standard.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2456: RELATING TO DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid prescription drug program recipients with coverage of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs for weight loss. Appropriates funds. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/Medicare coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs and appropriates funds, expanding access to prescription coverage under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Prescription Drugs

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