RELATING TO HEALTH.

HB716

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

716

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to health
.

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 federally
qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Ryan White HIV/AIDs program
centers, and Native Hawaiian health centers are a vital source of health care
access and public health for Hawaii's underserved population, serving twenty
per cent of residents.

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Foundational
health information technology infrastructure is needed to transform health care
delivery and maintain public health readiness and recovery.
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Certified, hosted, and maintained health information
technology, including software and hardware upgrades and related technical
support, are an essential component of equitable access to care, particularly
in the artificial intelligence era.
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Such
systems enhance care coordination, improve patient outcomes, and assist
providers in meeting regulatory obligations.
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They also promote public health by equipping
providers and government agencies with the information necessary to understand
their community's needs and craft data-driven policies.
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Equally important, health information
technology systems that share information seamlessly are critical in supporting
trauma informed care by ensuring that sensitive patient health information is
interoperable among providers, thereby reducing the need to repeatedly ask
questions that could be traumatic for patients.

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The
legislature further finds that certified, hosted, and maintained health information
technology infrastructure requires significant upfront investment that is not
feasible for many providers in rural and underserved areas.
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The resulting difference in the quality of
health information technology available to providers creates disparities in
care and public health outcomes in rural and underserved communities.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish a grant program within the department
of health, to be administered by the state health planning and development
agency, to support a certified, hosted, and maintained health information
technology infrastructure and the implementation of interoperable health
information technologies for federally qualified health centers, rural health
clinics, Ryan White HIV/AIDs program centers, and Native Hawaiian health centers
in Hawaii.

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 323D, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to part II to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

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.
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Health Infrastructure Grant
Program

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323D-
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Definitions.
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As used in this subpart:

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"Certified"
means
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certified under the United States
Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for
Health Information Technology's Health IT Certification Program, which includes
interoperability and cybersecurity requirements pursuant to title 45 Code of
Federal Regulations, part 170, subpart B.

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"Department"
means the department of health.

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"Federally
qualified health center" has the same meaning as in title 42 United States
Code section 1396(l)(2)(B).

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"Hosted"
means a health information technology system that is managed, maintained, and
operated by an external entity through a centralized infrastructure, including
but not limited to cloud-based or on-premises data centers.

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"Maintained"
means regularly updating and ensuring compliance with current federal and state
requirements.

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"Native
Hawaiian health center" has the same meaning as in title 42 United States
Code section 11711(4).

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"Rural
health clinic" has the same meaning as in title 42 United States Code
section 1396(l)(1).

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"Ryan
White HIV/AIDs program center" means an organization that receives grant
funding under title 42 United States Code section 300ff-21.

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�323D-
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Health information technology infrastructure
grant program; establishment.
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There
is established a certified, hosted, and maintained health information
technology infrastructure grant program within the department, to be
administered by the state agency.
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The state
agency shall receive and review grant applications and may award grants for
eligible projects pursuant to the program.

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�323D-
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Eligible projects
.
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The state agency may award grants to eligible
applicants for eligible projects to:

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(1)
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Acquire or upgrade certified, hosted, and
maintained electronic health records systems;

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(2)
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Procure certified, hosted, and maintained
health information technology software and hardware, including digital security
programs and devices;

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(3)
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Finance installation services; and

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(4)
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Cover ongoing technical assistance and
workforce development and training.

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�323D-
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Eligible applicants.
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(a)
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Eligible applicants for a grant shall include:

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(1)
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Federally qualified health centers within the State;

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(2)
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Native Hawaiian health centers;

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(3)
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Ryan White HIV/AIDS program centers; and

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(4)
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Rural health clinics.

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(b)
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An eligible applicant shall also:

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(1)
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Be a nonprofit entity under section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and

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(2)
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Agree to support public health and serve as a
clinical research participant, including conducting research regarding insured
and uninsured individuals.

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�323D-
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Applications.
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(a)
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The state agency shall establish an annual time period to commence an
open process for submission of applications for funding under the program.
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The time period for submission shall be no
less than sixty days.

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(b)
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The form of the application shall be as
prescribed by the state agency and shall include:

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(1)
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Evidence demonstrating the applicant's
experience and ability to plan, organize, staff, and deliver health services to
underserved populations within the State;

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(2)
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A description of the project;

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(3)
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The number of people served by the applicant;
and

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(4)
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The total cost and timeline for completion of
the project.

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�323D-
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Rules.
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The state agency may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate
the purposes of this subpart.
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The rules
may include reasonable oversight and reporting provisions to ensure that grant
moneys are used as intended."

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SECTION
3.
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Chapter 323D, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by designating sections 323D-11 to 323D-18.6 as subpart A
and inserting a title before section 323D-11 to read as follows:

"
A.
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General Provisions.
"

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SECTION 4.
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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 Health
information technology infrastructure grant 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
5.
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New statutory material is
underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Health
Infrastructure Grant Program; Health Information Technologies; State Health
Planning and Development Agency; FQHCs; Rural Health Clinics; Ryan White
HIV/AIDs Program Centers; Native Hawaiian Health Centers; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Health Infrastructure Grant Program within the Department of Health, to be
administered by the State Health Planning and Development Agency, to support
health information technology infrastructure and the implementation of
interoperable health information technologies in federally qualified health
centers, rural health clinics, Ryan White HIV/AIDs program centers, and Native
Hawaiian health centers.
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Appropriates
funds for the grant program.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.