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In Hawaiʻi, the healthcare workforce represents a fragile and overstretched reality rather than an abstract policy issue. The removal of even a single clinician from practice has significant consequences, particularly in rural communities where healthcare access is already limited and the margin for disruption is minimal. This bill proposes a practical update to Hawaiʻi law by permitting actively practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to claim the same jury du

As a primary care doctor, I sometimes feel a reflexive weariness when yet another study is published concluding that we should spend more on primary care. Study after study has made the same point for decades: strong primary care improves health outcomes, advances equity, and lowers overall health care costs. The evidence is clear. What has been missing is not proof, but a practical way to turn that evidence into durable change. What makes the 2025 Primary Care Investment Gui

Although national scorecards consistently rank Hawaiʻi as having the best healthcare, citing long life expectancy, low uninsured rates, and efficient healthcare spending, these metrics obscure significant challenges. Many families lack access to primary care, mothers are often required to deliver on other islands, and hospitals frequently face staffing shortages. This contradiction is longstanding and originates from the limitations inherent in the data collection methods. Th

Prior authorization has become one of the most misapplied tools in modern medicine. In Hawaii, where we already face severe provider shortages, high administrative burdens, and limited rural access, the overuse of prior authorization magnifies the crisis. Physicians are required to submit layers of documentation to automated systems that do not reflect the clinical realities of caring for patients in the most geographically isolated state in the nation. The Hawaii Healthcare

Primary care constitutes the segment of healthcare focused on maintaining wellness, rather than intervening only after illness occurs. It encompasses prevention, early intervention, and long-term management. Despite its importance, primary care has been chronically underfunded in the United States, a trend that is particularly pronounced in Hawaiʻi. Data from the CMS Limited Data Set, as analyzed by Westat, indicate that primary care spending per beneficiary aged 65 and older

By Dr. Esther Smith Editor’s Note: This article is part of the Hawai‘i Provider Shortage Crisis Task Force’s ongoing series examining policies that influence healthcare access and equity across the islands. Dr. Esther Smith analyzes how federal spending regulations, initially intended to protect patients, may inadvertently contribute to Hawai‘i’s worsening provider shortage. Ensuring Care, Not Overhead The Affordable Care Act established the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) , mandati

When Hawai‘i sought to expand its screen industry, lawmakers implemented a predictable incentive: 22% on O‘ahu, 27% on Neighbor Islands, with a $50 million annual cap and a $17 million per-production cap. This approach generated jobs, spending, and tax revenue. In 2023 alone, productions claiming Hawai‘i’s film credit (25 projects) reported $37.3 million in credits. DBEDT’s own analysis estimates that every $1 in credit  generates $4.00 in state GDP  (or $2.50  under a conser

Dr. Kaohimanu Dang Akiona The Hawaii Medical Association typically confers its President’s Award in recognition of a physician’s lifetime of visible achievement. In the case of Dr. Kaohimanu Dang Akiona, the award recognizes her dedicated service in underserved areas and her tireless advocacy for enhanced healthcare standards for local communities. Dr. Akiona initially trained as a researcher and subsequently developed community health programs, including a cancer patient nav

The recent Nitta ruling highlights the significant imbalance in Hawaii's healthcare contracting system. In this case, physicians argued...

Hawai‘i is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty and a strong sense of community, but our healthcare system faces challenges as vast...

Hawaii’s physician shortage worsens as independent practices struggle to survive. In Hawaii’s rural communities from Kaʻū to Hāna to...

Few terms in healthcare policy carry as much weight or baggage as the "Physician Fee Schedule" (PFS). Maintained by the Centers for...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2025 Contact: info@hawaiihealthcaretaskforce.org Hawaii Healthcare Task Force 1003 Bishop St., Suite 1260...

A legal challenge exposes how one-sided contract terms and restrictive arbitration clauses threaten Hawaii’s provider workforce and...