RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.

HB688

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

688

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to community health workers
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that community
health workers connect rural, underserved communities with programs and
services that impact social determinants of health and address factors such as
access to health care, prevention, outreach, and training.
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Community health workers often serve in
rural, underserved communities and spend a significant portion of their time
doing telehealth and behavioral health, outreach such as assisting individuals
to apply for medical insurance, providing health education resources, and
locating work opportunities.
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Community
health workers may also serve as translators, assisting their communities to
navigate health care and social service systems.

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The
legislature further finds that there is a great need for community health
workers, especially in rural and underserved communities that do not have
reliable access to health education resources or job opportunities.
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As a critical intermediary between residents
and health care and social services, community health workers have a unique
understanding of their community needs and accessibility to services.
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Establishing a pilot program for community
health workers with clear parameters, including major responsibilities and
scope of work, will allow community health workers to continue their valuable
work in communities statewide.

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Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to establish a three-year rural community health
worker pilot program to provide outreach, education, training, and navigation
to individuals residing in rural communities and address social determinants of
health.

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SECTION
2.
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(a)
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The department of health shall establish and administer a three-year
rural community health worker pilot program for community health workers to
provide outreach, education, training, and navigation to individuals residing
in the State's rural communities and address social determinants of health.

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(b)
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Community health workers participating in the
rural community health worker pilot program may provide health education and
outreach, individual support and assistance, cultural competency and advocacy,
and data collection and reporting within the State's rural communities.

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(c)
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Services offered by community health workers
pursuant to subsection (b) shall meet the following requirements:

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(1)
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Health education and outreach shall include:

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(A)
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Health education programs that promote health
awareness, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle practices; and

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(B)
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Information on health care services,
resources, and programs that are available to rural community members;

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(2)
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Individual support and assistance shall
include:

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(A)
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Assistance to individuals in navigating the
health care system, including accessing health care facilities, appointments,
and follow-up care; and

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(B)
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Guidance and support for individuals in
managing chronic conditions, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications
for improved health outcomes;

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(3)
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Cultural competency and advocacy shall
include:

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(A)
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Cultural sensitivity and competence during
interactions with diverse populations within a rural community; and

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(B)
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Advocating for the health needs and concerns
of rural community members to health care providers, institutions, and
policymakers; and

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(4)
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Data collection and reporting shall include:

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(A)
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Maintenance of accurate records of educational
activities and individual interactions; and

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(B)
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Submission of periodic reports on rural
community health trends, needs, and program effectiveness to relevant health
authorities or agencies.

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(d)
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The department of health shall enter into a
contract with a nonprofit organization to recruit, train, assign, and supervise
community health workers and oversee the pilot program.
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The nonprofit organization contracted under
this subsection shall have:

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(1)
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A history of providing community empowerment,
capacity building, collaborative partnerships, and health education to the
State's rural communities;

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(2)
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The knowledge and experience necessary to
provide community health worker services to program participants;

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(3)
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The capacity to provide culturally competent
training and services; and

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(4)
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A board of directors and staff team consisting
of a majority of residents who currently reside in a rural community in the
State.

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(e)
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Existing department of health personnel may
be assigned to fulfill administrative and fiscal responsibilities of the rural
community health worker pilot program.

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(f)
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The department of health, in conjunction with
the nonprofit organization contracted under subsection (d), shall submit
interim reports on the development and administration of the rural community
health worker pilot program, including any proposed legislation, to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions
of 2026, 2027, and 2028.
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Each interim
report shall include a record of pilot program activities and accomplishments,
including:

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(1)
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Outreach and training of community health
workers; and

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(2)
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Services provided to program participants by a
community health worker.

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(g)
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The department of health shall submit a final
report on the rural community health worker pilot program, including any
proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2029.
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The final report shall include:

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(1)
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A record of pilot program activities and
accomplishments, including:

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(A)
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Outreach and training of community health
workers; and

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(B)
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Services provided to program participants by a
community health worker; and

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(2)
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A recommendation on whether to extend the
pilot program beyond three years.

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(h)
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As used in this section:

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"Community
health worker" means a frontline health worker who is a trusted member of
the community in which the community health worker lives, is from the
community, or who has an unusually close understanding of the community served
that enables the community health worker to:

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(1)
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Build trusted relationships;

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(2)
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Serve as a liaison between health care and
social services and the community;

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(3)
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Facilitate access to services; and

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(4)
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Improve the quality and cultural competence of
service delivery.

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"Program
participant" means a resident of a rural community in the State who
requests services by a community health worker through the rural community
health worker pilot program.

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"Rural"
means an area that is currently served by a critical access hospital as defined
in section 346-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the rural

community health worker
pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
department of health for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOH; Community Health Workers; Rural Community Health
Worker Pilot Program; Preventive Services; Social Determinants of Health;
Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the Department of Health to establish and administer a three-year Rural
Community Health Worker Pilot Program that enables community health workers to
provide outreach, education, training, and navigation to individuals residing
in rural communities in the State and address social determinants of
health.
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Appropriates funds.

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