HI HB1965

Establishes a Primary Care Provider Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency to address Hawaii's primary care crisis and develop recommendations for stabilizing primary care services.

Hawaii faces a shortage of approximately 768 full-time equivalent healthcare providers, with 152 additional primary care providers needed statewide according to University of Hawaii workforce assessments.

Working group will examine minimum percentage expenditures for primary care reimbursements by health carriers, downcoding practices, claim modifications, new reporting requirements, enforcement mechanisms, and creation of a primary care stabilization special fund.

Membership includes state agency officials, five insurance industry representatives, five licensed health care professionals, and five consumer/employer representatives from organizations including Hawaii Medical Association and Hawaii Primary Care Association.

Working group must submit findings and proposed legislation to the legislature by twenty days before the 2027 regular session and sunsets on June 30, 2027.