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HB942
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
942
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 promoting the
health of Hawaii residents is an essential role of state government.
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However many communities, particularly those
in rural and underserved areas, face significant barriers to obtaining timely
and quality health care.
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These barriers
contribute to persistent health disparities among vulnerable populations,
including Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, low-income families, and
individuals living in geographically isolated regions.
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The legislature further
finds that the department of health contracts with community-based
organizations to deliver critical services such as mental health care,
substance abuse, maternal-child health care, and developmental disabilities
services on behalf of the State.
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By
strengthening collaborations with service providers, the department of health
can enhance program delivery and improve access to essential services, improve
access to essential health care services, and effectively address health
disparities in vulnerable communities.
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Families in Hawaii depend on this network of community-based
organizations as a health care safety net; however, contract rates have not
increased in many years and fail to cover full program costs.
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Community-based organizations have attempted
to fill the gap between funding levels and demand for services through their
own fundraising efforts but are finding the growing gap insurmountable.
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If the gap between funding levels and demand
for services is not mitigated by increased state funding, these organizations
will have to decline contracts or reduce the number of services provided,
despite the community need, and some organizations will be unable to sustain
operations.
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According to a 2022
survey of Hawaii community-based nonprofit organizations, ninety-one per cent
had government contract budgets that fell below the full operating costs
required to provide the contracted services.
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Of those, seventy-nine per cent always or often had to cut
administrative costs.
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Accordingly, the
purpose of this Act is to provide increased funding for the department of health
to collaborate with community-based organizations to address the need for health
care services in Hawaii.
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SECTION
2.
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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 health care
services contracted with community-based organizations.
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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 3.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
DOH;
Community-based Organizations; Contracted Services; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates
funds to the Department of Health for health care services contracted with
community-based organizations.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.