THE SENATE S.R. NO. 191 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE RESOLUTION urging the department of human services to increase reimbursement rates to primary care physicians FOR services to med-quest recipients.
THE SENATE S.R. NO. 191
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
THE SENATE
S.R. NO.
191
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE RESOLUTION
urging the department of human services to increase reimbursement rates to primary care physicians FOR services to med-quest recipients.
WHEREAS, current baseline reimbursements in commercial health insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare plans are low and offer no cost of living increases or overhead reimbursements for physicians; and WHEREAS, in addition, these plans offer no increase in reimbursement rates to reflect years of experience, as is common in other fields; and WHEREAS, without adequate reimbursement rates, physicians may struggle to maintain a financially viable practice or may refuse to provide care altogether to patients utilizing those plans; and WHEREAS, many physicians are opting out of private practice and currently, ten per cent of physicians in Hawaii are in private practice, while ten years ago seventy-five per cent were in private practice; and WHEREAS, increasing reimbursement rates will help ensure that primary care physicians who provide services to med-QUEST recipients can continue to serve this population without experiencing a loss of revenue; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Human Services is urged to increase reimbursement rates to primary care physicians for services to med-QUEST recipients; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Department of Human Services; Primary Care Physicians; Med-QUEST Reimbursements
WHEREAS, current baseline reimbursements in commercial health insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare plans are low and offer no cost of living increases or overhead reimbursements for physicians; and
WHEREAS, in addition, these plans offer no increase in reimbursement rates to reflect years of experience, as is common in other fields; and
WHEREAS, without adequate reimbursement rates, physicians may struggle to maintain a financially viable practice or may refuse to provide care altogether to patients utilizing those plans; and
WHEREAS, many physicians are opting out of private practice and currently, ten per cent of physicians in Hawaii are in private practice, while ten years ago seventy-five per cent were in private practice; and
WHEREAS, increasing reimbursement rates will help ensure that primary care physicians who provide services to med-QUEST recipients can continue to serve this population without experiencing a loss of revenue; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Human Services is urged to increase reimbursement rates to primary care physicians for services to med-QUEST recipients; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.
OFFERED BY: _____________________________
OFFERED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Department of Human Services; Primary Care Physicians; Med-QUEST Reimbursements