Yesterday, at a ceremony at Kealakehe Clinic in the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center, Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed 13 bills , to support various aspects of health care that will allow for improved access and services for the community.

“Today’s bill signing will further our Administration’s priorities of ensuring quality health care access for the people of Hawaiʻi,” said Governor Green in a press release. Green continued, “Access to health care shouldn’t be a ‘want to have,’ but a ‘need to have,’ and we will continue to work toward finding those solutions that increase access, especially in our rural communities.”

SB404 Updates the Hospital Sustainability Program to clarify the use of the Hospital Sustainability Program Special Fund to support a hospital’s ability to continue to provide services to Medicaid recipients. The bill makes these programs permanent with passage, rather than allowing the program to sunset at the end of December 2023.

SB671 Excludes fentanyl testing strips from the definition of drug paraphernalia in the uniform Controlled Substance Act and defines a fentanyl test strip.

SB674 Allows Hawaiʻi to enter into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (already in effect in 37 other states, the District of Columbia, and Guam) to allow physicians to more easily practice in Hawaiʻi, while still meeting nationally established standards for education and training.

HB907 HD2 SD2 temporarily allows for the reimbursement of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system and two-way, real-time, audio-only communications in certain circumstances. Defines “interactive telecommunications system.” The bill sunsets Dec. 31, 2025.

Additional bills signed by Governor Green yesterday included:

SB162 SD2 HD2 CD1, Relating to Dentistry 

SB473 SD1 HD2 CD1, Relating to the Practice of Pharmacy 

SB599 SD1 HD2 CD1, Relating to Health Care Providers

SB602 SD2 HD1 CD1, Relating to Health Care Providers

SB759 SD2 HD2 CD1, Relating to Health Community Efforts

HB660 HD1 SD2 CD1, Relating to the Issuance of Special Purpose Revenue Bonds

HB884 HD1 SD2 CD1, Relating to Traveling Team Physicians 

HB1082 HD3 SD2 CD1, Relating to Medical Cannabis

HB1369 HD1 SD2 CD1, Relating to Nursing Facilities