Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 395: RELATING TO LEAD POISONING.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires physicians to perform or order lead screening tests for minor patients at certain intervals as recommended by the Department of Health and make an entry of the lead screening test in the minor patient's record. Requires the Department of Health to adopt recommendations for lead screening tests. Requires the Department of Health to report to the Legislature if it adjusts the recommendations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates lead screening for minors to prevent health complications, strengthening public health preventive care and patient access to early intervention.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1224: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Prohibits health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations from arbitrarily denying coverage requests for gender affirming health care services when the requested service is known to be considered a standard of care and for which scientific evidence exists that supports the service. Increases transparency of insurance carrier medical necessity reviews and requirements when coverage is denied.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits arbitrary denial of gender-affirming care coverage, expands access to standard-of-care treatments, and protects patient rights under insurance policies.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1626: RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

SB 1626 allocates state funds to the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, helping healthcare professionals repay student loans. It directly affects licensed healthcare workers, particularly those serving in underserved areas or specific roles like nurses, doctors, or mental health providers. The bill’s key mechanism is providing financial support to reduce graduates' education debt, making it easier for them to enter or remain in the healthcare workforce. This is a funding measure, not a new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds to healthcare loan repayment program, increasing government spending on workforce development and public service funding.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to repay healthcare professionals' student loans, directly supporting workforce retention in underserved areas and reducing debt barriers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds healthcare professionals' student loan repayment, reducing debt barriers to enter/remain in workforce, directly supporting labor retention in critical sectors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 2409: RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

Requires a participant in the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to remain and work in the State for a certain number of years based on the amount of financial assistance received.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill incentivizes healthcare professionals to remain in-state via loan repayment, strengthening workforce retention and access to care through mandatory service requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2390: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing, expanding diagnostic access and strengthening health coverage requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2552: RELATING TO EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE LICENSURE WAIVERS.

HB 2552 allows temporary exemptions from specific healthcare licensing requirements during declared emergencies, enabling out-of-state or temporarily unlicensed healthcare workers to provide services. It directly affects healthcare workers seeking to practice during crises and patients needing urgent care access. The bill mandates that the state submit an annual report to the legislature detailing how these waivers were implemented and their impact. This creates a structured process for expanding workforce flexibility in emergencies while maintaining accountability.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables temporary healthcare worker practice during emergencies, improving patient access to urgent care without restricting licensing requirements.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 648: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Requires the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health to amend its eligibility criteria for the home and community-based services Medicaid waiver to include individuals having an intellectual or a developmental disability and a comorbid mental illness. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid waiver eligibility for mental illness comorbidities and appropriates funds, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Tags People with Disabilities

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 216: RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes requirements for the clinical review criteria and clinical practical guidelines used to establish step therapy protocols. Provides a process for a patient to request an exception to using step therapy protocols. Establishes insurance coverage requirements relating to the use of step therapy protocols and standards to appeal an adverse step therapy exception determination.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates patient exception processes for step therapy, improves prescription drug access, and protects patient rights via appeal standards for insurance coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1426: RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to the counties to increase access to emergency aeromedical services. Appropriates funds into and out of the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund to the Department of Health for the establishment and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds to increase access to emergency aeromedical services, directly funding critical healthcare access and expanding emergency medical services coverage.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 567: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 567 establishes a state income tax credit for individuals who pay for medical travel expenses not covered by insurance. Eligible residents could reduce their income tax bill by the amount spent on qualifying travel, such as trips to specialists or treatment centers. The credit applies only to costs not reimbursed through insurance coverage. This policy directly affects people facing out-of-pocket transportation costs for medical care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit reducing income tax burden for medical travel costs, directly advancing tax relief for individuals facing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credit for uninsured medical travel costs, reducing financial barriers to healthcare access and directly improving patient affordability for essential care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Insurance

Track