Healthcare (Hospitals)

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 377: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 377 would remove the general excise tax from medical services provided by healthcare facilities and professionals. This change directly affects hospitals, clinics, doctors, and their patients by eliminating a tax on services like check-ups, treatments, and hospital care. The bill's key provision is a straightforward tax exemption, meaning healthcare providers would no longer collect or remit this tax on qualifying medical services. The policy aims to reduce costs associated with healthcare delivery without altering other tax structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves general excise tax on medical services, providing tax relief to patients and providers, aligning with tax relief indicators for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves tax on medical services, reducing costs for providers/patients and aligning with healthcare cost reduction goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Hospitals

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1394: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits hospitals and medical facilities from using mechanical, chemical, or physical restraints or seclusion on minors and vulnerable adult patients, except when necessary.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits unnecessary restraints/seclusion on minors/vulnerable adults, protecting patient rights in healthcare settings per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 953: RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Establishes the State's Hospital Price Transparency Act. Prohibits hospitals from taking certain debt collection actions against a patient if the hospital is not in compliance with hospital price transparency laws. Allows patients and patient guarantors to file suit against hospitals in violation. Requires hospitals to make public and post their Medicare reimbursement rates no later than 10/1/25 and deems violations as an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Health to conduct performance assessments of hospitals for adherence to federal transparency rules annually and make a list of hospitals with poor performance available on its website no later than 2/1/2026. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to post Medicare rates and prohibits debt collection for non-compliance, protecting patients from surprise bills and improving price transparency in healthcare access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 556: RELATING TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS.

Creates a framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals by the Department of Health. Provides for the continuation of Medicaid policy protections for hospitals transitioning to a rural emergency hospital designation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareContinues Medicaid policy protections for rural hospitals transitioning to emergency designation, ensuring healthcare access continuity for rural communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing Mental Health

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1225: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Amends the definition of "dangerous to self". Defines the terms "gravely disabled" and "psychiatric deterioration". Broadens the term of "imminently dangerous to self and others". Increases the maximum period of emergency hospitalization.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health emergency hospitalization criteria and duration, increasing access to care during crises per support indicators for mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 1, 2026

HR 5: AFFIRMING AND SUPPORTING THE REQUIREMENT THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING EMERGENCY CARE TO PREGNANT PEOPLE, INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE AND ABORTION SERVICES, WHEN SUCH CARE IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO STABILIZE A PATIENT UNDER THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ACTIVE LABOR ACT.

This Hawaii House Resolution (HR 5) affirms that hospitals must provide life-saving emergency care - including abortion services when medically necessary - to stabilize pregnant patients under the federal EMTALA law. It directly supports Hawaii hospitals and emergency providers, reinforcing their existing practice of offering such care without delay. The resolution urges all hospitals in Hawaii, including religiously affiliated ones, to continue following EMTALA’s requirement to provide necessary emergency treatment regardless of patient circumstances. It does not create new law but clarifies Hawaii’s commitment to upholding federal emergency care standards, addressing confusion from recent shifts in federal guidance. The resolution aims to strengthen public confidence in emergency care access for pregnant people across the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hospitals provide emergency reproductive care including abortion under EMTALA, protecting patient access and rights in medical emergencies per federal law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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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

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 7: AFFIRMING AND SUPPORTING THE REQUIREMENT THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING EMERGENCY CARE TO PREGNANT PEOPLE, INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE AND ABORTION SERVICES, WHEN SUCH CARE IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO STABILIZE A PATIENT UNDER THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ACTIVE LABOR ACT.

Senate Resolution 7 affirms Hawaii's support for the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires hospitals to provide life-saving emergency care - including abortion services when medically necessary - to stabilize pregnant patients experiencing medical emergencies. The resolution urges all Hawaii hospitals, regardless of religious affiliation, to uphold EMTALA's requirements and ensure no pregnant patient faces delays or denials of timely emergency care. This is a declaratory statement of policy, not a new law, aimed at reinforcing existing federal standards and clarifying Hawaii's commitment to reproductive healthcare access during medical emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAffirms EMTALA compliance requiring emergency abortion access for stabilization, protecting patient rights and ensuring no delays in life-saving care per federal law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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