HB475 Summary

• Requires Hawaii Medicaid programs to provide coverage for ambulance services beginning January 1, 2022, and authorizes optional coverage for community paramedicine services provided by emergency medical technicians or paramedics.

• Mandates all individual and group health insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2022, to cover ambulance services and services provided by emergency medical technicians or paramedics.

• Requires hospital and medical service plan contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2022, to include coverage for ambulance services and community paramedicine services.

• Appropriates funding from general revenues for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to cover collectively bargained costs and personnel expenses related to Medicaid ambulance service coverage.

• Takes effect July 1, 2022.