Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2899: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

For policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after 12/31/2026, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for fertility preservation during medically necessary treatments, expanding patient access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2225: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits discrimination against a pharmacy or pharmacist with respect to participation, referral, reimbursement of a covered service, or indemnification. Establishes beneficiary cost sharing and deductible requirements for prescription drugs. Establishes minimum rates for which pharmacy benefit managers are to reimburse pharmacies for dispensing prescription drugs. For prescription drug benefit plans executed, amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after 7/1/2027, requires a pharmacy benefit manager to use pass-through pricing, or may alternatively use spread pricing if any savings realized by the pharmacy benefit manager are passed on.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates fair reimbursement rates for pharmacies from PBMs, prohibits discrimination in referrals/reimbursement, and sets cost-sharing standards to protect pharmacy access and patient medication availability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1246: RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Makes conforming amendments related to the legalization of personal adult use of cannabis. Beginning 1/1/2026, decriminalizes certain drug offenses related to marijuana and marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities to regulate the personal adult use of cannabis. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLegalizes medical cannabis access, expanding patient treatment options under healthcare services per bill's medical cannabis subject and tax provisions.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 160: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health facility for inmates, advancing rehabilitation within corrections system per bill's explicit funding and facility construction mandate.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds to construct mental health facility for inmates, directly advancing mental health services through healthcare infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1494: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Requires health insurance policies and contracts issued on or after 1/1/2026 to provide optional coverage for the cost of hearing aids at a minimum $1,500 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every thirty-six months. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for hearing aids, expanding access to a specific healthcare service and aligning with coverage expansion indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 139: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

For policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after 12/31/2025, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for fertility preservation during medically necessary treatments, expanding patient access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 482: RELATING TO COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS.

Requires all health care providers who accept Medicare to provide a cognitive assessment as part of the Medicare Part B annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries sixty-five years of age or older, with certain exceptions. Requires health care providers to submit certain information to the Executive Office on Aging and the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature on an annual basis. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for cognitive assessments and data reporting to Executive Office on Aging, directly funding a public health program per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates cognitive assessments for Medicare seniors, appropriates funds for data reporting, advancing early Alzheimer's detection and improving care access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 572: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from certain healthcare-related goods or services that were not the general excise tax. Expands general excise tax exemptions to include purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemptions for food and healthcare, providing relief for essential purchases, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income households.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax exemptions for Medicare/Medicaid/TRICARE purchases, reducing out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services and improving access to covered care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Medicaid Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 820: RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurers in the State, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies under certain conditions. Applies to insurance policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the State after 12/31/2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover continuous glucose monitors for diabetics, expanding essential medical equipment access under health insurance plans per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1211: RELATING TO A STATE BREAST MILK BANK.

SB 1211 proposes creating a state-run breast milk bank operated by the Department of Health to provide donated human milk to infants in medical need. The bill establishes a dedicated "breast milk bank special fund" and allocates state funding to support its operation. This would directly affect hospitals, healthcare providers, and vulnerable infants requiring donor milk, particularly in neonatal intensive care settings. The bill is currently pending in committee review, having been deferred by the Health and Human Services committee in January 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state-funded breast milk bank via DOH, allocates dedicated special fund for infant medical needs, directly advancing public health access in neonatal care.92% confidence

Track