May 11, 2025, 12:00 p.m. HST
The delegation of the Hawaiʻi Congress has reintroduced legislation to improve access to health care for the elderly by increasing medication reimbursement rates for local suppliers.
The Access to Access to Access to Care Act in Hawaiʻi (Patch), led by the American senses. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and American representatives Jill Tokuda and Ed Case, seeks to approach the shortage of state doctors by increasing medication payments up to 38%. Legislators claim that the boost would help preserve and recruit doctors in the midst of operating and life costs, ensuring that the 300,000 state beneficiaries can access care.
“While more and more people reach the age of Medicare in Hawaiʻi, we see fewer health care providers due to the increase in operating and life costs in our state,” said Schatz. “Our bill would help solve this problem, stimulating medical payments to suppliers and protecting access to health care for the 300,000 elderly people in Hawaiʻi who depend on Medicare.”
The payments of Medicare doctors by beneficiary in Hawaiʻi are among the lowest nationwide, despite significantly higher operating costs. Health officials say the gap threatens access to care.
“There is a serious shortage of labor in Hawaii which affects the ability of state residents to access the care in a timely manner,” said Hilton Raethel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi. “This bill will provide help has long been expected by our state, ensuring that doctors are paid fairly for their services.”
The full text of the bill is Available here.