Hawaii House Bill HCR202

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Strongly Supporting And Recommending The Implementation Of The Revised 2025 Hawaii Patient Bill Of Rights.

Impact

The resolution recognizes the challenges posed by recent increases in claims denials, especially those stemming from AI-based systems. It establishes new requirements for insurers, including the transparent communication of covered services, timely referrals, and emergency care access. Additional measures include mandates for mental health, explicit rights for patients to accept or decline treatments, and creating avenues for patient-friendly appeal processes. All of these aspects aim to safeguard patient autonomy and ensure that patients are not adversely affected by bureaucratic delays.

Summary

HCR202 is a House Concurrent Resolution strongly supporting the implementation of the Revised 2025 Hawaii Patient Bill of Rights. This document aims to modernize and enhance patient protections in Hawaii, addressing significant issues such as artificial intelligence-driven coverage decisions, healthcare accessibility, and persistent provider shortages in medical care. Given that over 35% of Hawaii's residents live in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, the bill emphasizes the urgent need to streamline insurance processes and ensure timely access to necessary healthcare services.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HCR202 involves the balance between regulatory oversight and the operational realities faced by healthcare providers and insurers. The proposal requires insurers to implement HIPAA-level data protections and outlines specific provisions targeting the accountability of AI systems in decision-making processes. Critics may argue that additional regulations could complicate existing operational frameworks, while proponents assert that these measures are essential to protect patient interests and enhance quality of care.