Overview
STATE BUDGET
Hawaii operates on a biennial budget cycle, with each biennium beginning on July 1. State agencies submit their budget requests to the Governor by September, who submits a proposed budget to the state legislature in December. The legislature adopts the budget around April or May. The Governor is required to submit a balanced budget. The legislature is not required to pass a balanced budget, but the budget the Governor signs into law must be balanced.
STATE LEGISLATURE
The state has 25 state Senators who serve four year terms, and 51 members of the House of Representatives, who serve two year terms. The state Legislature convenes on the third Wednesday in January of every year. Regular sessions are limited to sixty legislative days, but they can be extended by fifteen days by the Governor of Hawaii or by the request of two-thirds of each legislative house. Bills carry over from odd to even numbered years.
KEY RESOURCES
- Hawaii State Legislature
- Hawaii Office of the Attorney General
- Governor of Hawaii
- Information on Healthcare Policy in Hawaii
- Hawaii Health Data Center
2025 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
Hawaii introduced several bills that will roll over into the next year. HB11, HB1104 and SB1423 would eliminate Certificate of Need requirements for several types of healthcare facilities or health care facilities operated by the state’s Department of Health. HB1490 and SB1179 would require the state’s Health Authority to develop a comprehensive universal single healthcare payer system. SB348 would establish a Pre-Merger Notification requirement, and SB953 would establish the Hospital Price Transparency Act, which would prohibit hospitals from taking debt collection actions against patients.
Hawaii Laws
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 346-421. Health analytics program; appointments: Health Analytics – Hawaii
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The health analytics program shall develop, design, or implement databases, primarily an all-claims, all-payer database, and an encompassing data center to collect and analyze healthcare data.
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Haw. Rev. Stat. § 346-53.63. Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic; adjustment for changes to scope of services: Specific Provisions Covering Public Assistance and Child Welfare Services – Hawaii
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Prospective payment system rates may be adjusted for any increases or decreases in the scope of services furnished by a participating federally qualified health center or rural health clinic, provided that: (1) The federally qualified […]
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Haw. Rev. Stat. § 346-59.1. Coverage for telehealth: Specific Provisions Covering Public Assistance and Child Welfare Services – Hawaii
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The State’s Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service programs shall not deny coverage for any service provided through telehealth that would be covered if the service were provided through in-person consultation between a patient and a […]
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Haw. Rev. Stat. § 386-21. Medical care, services, and supplies: Medical and Rehabilitation Benefits – Hawaii
Introduced: Status: Enacted
If the director determines that an allowance under the Medicare program is not reasonable or if a medical treatment, accommodation, product, or service existing as of June 29, 1995, is not covered under the Medicare […]
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Haw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10A-116.3. Coverage for telehealth: Individual Accident and Health or Sickness Policies – Hawaii
Introduced: Status: Enacted
It is the intent of the legislature to recognize the application of telehealth as a reimbursable service by which an individual shall receive medical services from a health care provider without face-to-face contact with the […]
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