HI SCR149

Department of Health requested to establish an informal working group to assess services and funding needs for complex patients with two or more co-occurring diagnoses including substance use disorders, mental health disorders, or chronic physical illnesses.

Approximately 54,000 adults in Hawaii have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, often coupled with chronic physical illnesses, who frequently cycle through fragmented care systems resulting in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and homelessness.

Working group to evaluate integrated residential treatment and therapeutic living facilities, medication-assisted treatments, mental health protocols, primary medical care, peer support services, and trauma-informed programming.

Director of Health to chair the working group with members from state agencies, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, substance use and mental health providers, and medical organizations.

Report with findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, due to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027.