Issue Position: Healthcare

Issue Position

Kupuna, Keiki must have accesible healthcare.

At a time when there is so much uncertainty about health care and access, both federally and locally, Sen. Inouye supported legislation that was approved during the 2018 session to ensure that Hawai'i residents continue to enjoy benefits provided by the federal Affordable Care Act in the event something occurs at the federal level to dismantle this coverage. This includes dependent health care coverage for children up to age 26, prohibiting health insurance entities from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions or using an individual's gender when determining premiums or contributions. This bill is awaiting the signature of the Governor.

Senator Inouye also helped secure a $500,000 Grant In Aid for desperately needed expansion of North Hawai'i Community Hospital's Emergency Room in 2018, and in 2017, secured a Grant In Aid for Hamakua Health Center and $2 million in CIP for a cardiac care unit at Hilo Medical Center.

In the 2017 session, she also secured $1 million in CIP funding for the design and construction of interior renovations and exterior remodeling of Kohala Hospital; these funds were recently released and construction is expected to begin soon.

Among other health care bills that passed was one she actively supported -- because it was initiated by the Blue Zones Project community volunteers in Waimea -- seeking to buffer children from the sale of tobacco and vaping products. Efforts to restrict sales of tobacco and vaping products near schools failed but she plans to pursue this again in 2019.

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