HI SB2624

Requires the Department of Health to implement a telehealth pilot project at two distinct sites designated as medically underserved areas—one in a county with population under 500,000 and one with population over 500,000, each including a federally-qualified health center or rural health clinic.

Requires the Department of Health to implement a rural health care pilot project serving three rural areas on Maui (Hana district), Molokai, and Lanai, with contracted physicians and nurse practitioners receiving a $250 availability fee per patient visit plus reimbursement for travel, lodging, and per diem expenses.

Restricts rural health care pilot project physicians and nurse practitioners to medical specialties difficult for rural residents to access, including cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, dermatology, nephrology, and psychiatry.

Appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the telehealth pilot project and $100,000 for the rural health care pilot project.

Requires the Department of Health to submit evaluation reports within six months of fund exhaustion, assessing quality of care, patient satisfaction, workforce development, financial sustainability, and proposed legislation.