HI SR167

Urges the Governor to appoint members to the currently inactive Hawaii Health Authority to plan a transition to a single-payer health care system for the state.

Responds to federal Budget Reconciliation Act cuts of over $1 trillion in Medicaid over ten years, which the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization estimates will cost Hawaii $400 million in Medicaid spending and affect more than 400,000 residents.

Projects potential healthcare cost reductions of approximately 30% through administrative savings, including eliminating about 15% of hospital budgets currently spent on billing and collection, which could reduce the total state budget by around 9%.

Implementation would occur after obtaining federal waivers to capture funding from Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.

Requests the Hawaii Health Authority submit a progress report with recommendations and proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the Regular Session of 2027.