Making An Appropriation To The Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership Program.
The bill proposes an allocation of $500,000 for the fiscal year 2022-2023 to ensure the continuation of the HHAP Program's operations. The funding is critical as the program previously faced periods without state funding, which negatively impacted its ability to serve the elderly population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHAP had to adapt its delivery methods, offering services both virtually and in small groups, revealing their capability to pivot in response to public health mandates while maintaining effectiveness in health outcomes.
House Bill 1730 is designed to make an appropriation to support the Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership (HHAP) Program, which has been instrumental in improving the health of older adults in Hawaii since its establishment in 2003. The program focuses on empowering seniors to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and offers evidence-based interventions such as 'Better Choices Better Health' (BCBH) for disease management and EnhanceFitness for physical fitness. This bill reflects an ongoing commitment to enhance the health outcomes for Hawaii's kupuna, an essential demographic within the state.
While there is strong support for the continuation of the HHAP program due to its benefits in enhancing the health and well-being of older adults, concerns are raised regarding the sustainability and adequacy of its funding. The absence of state support in previous years demonstrated vulnerabilities in addressing the health needs of kupuna. Hence, this bill serves not only as a financial allocation but also as a strategic commitment to uphold the aging population's health and wellness, amidst challenges posed by the pandemic and resource limitations.