Hawaii Senate Bill SCR216

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/12/25

Caption

Urging The Department Of Human Services To Increase Reimbursement Rates To Primary Care Physicians For Services To Med-quest Recipients.

Impact

If implemented, increased reimbursement rates would directly benefit primary care providers who serve the Med-QUEST population, ensuring they can maintain their practices and continue delivering care. The absence of adequate reimbursement could lead to physicians withdrawing from accepting patients on these plans, thereby jeopardizing healthcare access for vulnerable populations. The resolution outlines the necessity of competitive reimbursement to not only sustain current providers but also attract new ones to the Med-QUEST system.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 216 (SCR216) urges the Department of Human Services in Hawaii to increase reimbursement rates to primary care physicians for services provided to Med-QUEST recipients. The resolution highlights the concern that current reimbursement rates across commercial health insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare plans are insufficient, lacking cost of living adjustments and overhead reimbursements necessary for the sustainability of medical practices. With only 10% of physicians in Hawaii currently in private practice, down drastically from 75% a decade ago, the resolution aims to address the factors contributing to this decline in private practice participation.

Contention

Notable contention may arise in the discussions around how the increase is funded and whether it aligns with the broader budgetary priorities of the State of Hawaii. While healthcare professionals laud the effort to improve compensation, fiscal conservatives may express concern over the impact on public funds and budget allocations. Ensuring that cost increases are justified and managed within the overall state budget will likely be a critical point of debate during the legislative process.