HI SB2491

Establishes a standardized definition of "qualified health care provider" as any person with a current license or certification under Hawaii Revised Statutes titles 19 (health) or 25 (professions and vocations) whose scope of practice authorizes them to provide health care services

Replaces outdated and inconsistent statutory references to specific providers (such as "physician," "physician assistant," or "advanced practice registered nurse") with the new standardized "qualified health care provider" terminology across multiple chapters of Hawaii law

Amends statutes in areas including health, education, insurance, elections, firearms permits, traffic laws, and retirement benefits to incorporate the new definition and remove scope of practice barriers

Allows licensed health care providers to perform services they are qualified and trained to provide under their respective practice acts, expanding access to care while maintaining patient safety standards

Repeals the obsolete Hawaii Health Corps program as part of the statutory cleanup efforts recommended by the Hawaii State Center for Nursing's Healthcare Provider Barriers to Practice Law Review Task Group