Hawaii House Bill HCR152

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.

Impact

By mandating health insurance coverage for healthcare services provided by pharmacists, the resolution focuses on increasing access to care for individuals who otherwise face barriers. It anticipates that pharmacists' capabilities, which include medication therapy management, immunizations, and chronic disease management, could alleviate healthcare burdens and improve patient outcomes. The result could be a more integrated healthcare delivery model, strengthening the roles of pharmacists as vital components of the healthcare system.

Summary

HCR152 is a House Concurrent Resolution introduced in the Thirty-third Legislature of Hawaii in 2025, which seeks to address the significant shortage of healthcare providers within the state, particularly in rural areas and among underserved communities. The resolution highlights the essential role pharmacies play in delivering healthcare services and sets the groundwork for establishing a Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group. This group is tasked with exploring and proposing legislation aimed at ensuring pharmacists can receive fair reimbursement for health services provided to patients within their scope of practice.

Contention

HCR152 presents potential contention points regarding the reimbursement model and the impact on health insurance companies. While proponents argue that this measure will improve healthcare delivery and reduce costs related to hospital readmissions, there may be concerns about how these changes will be implemented, including the financial implications for insurers and the capacity of pharmacists to handle increased responsibilities. Additionally, the resolution aims to evaluate successful models from other jurisdictions, which could bring useful insights but also lead to debates on the best practices to adopt in Hawaii.