HB 1575: Movement Disorder Care; Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee; Patient Access; Interisland Travel; Report; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that access to specialized care for individuals living with Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders is limited in Hawaii.  The State's only designated movement disorder center is located on Oahu, requiring residents of neighbor islands to travel long distances at significant personal cost.

     For many patients and caregivers, traveling to Oahu for consultations, evaluations, and treatment is financially prohibitive and logistically burdensome.  As Parkinson's disease progresses, mobility challenges make air travel more difficult, increasing barriers to timely care.  These inequities raise serious concerns about access, quality of care, and long-term health outcomes for residents living outside Oahu.

     The legislature further finds that creating a dedicated state-administered fund, with the ability to leverage federal grants, philanthropic dollars, and private partnerships, may help offset transportation costs and ensure equitable access to care for all Hawaii residents living with Parkinson's disease.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a temporary Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee to examine mechanisms for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There shall be established, within the department of health for administrative purposes, the temporary Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee.

     (b)  The committee shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of health, or the director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

     (2)  The director of transportation, or the director's designee;

     (3)  One representative of the Parkinson's community, to be appointed by the governor;

     (4)  One physician specializing in movement disorders, to be appointed by the dean of the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine;

     (5)  One representative from a patient advocacy organization, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

     (6)  One representative from the airline industry, to be appointed by the president of the senate.

     (c)  The committee shall examine:

     (1)  The number of Parkinson's patients residing on each neighbor island and their estimated travel needs;

     (2)  Current costs borne by patients and caregivers for interisland air travel and related lodging or transportation;

     (3)  Potential funding models for a state-administered air transport assistance fund, including state appropriations, federal grants, private foundation grants, and public-private partnerships;

     (4)  Administrative mechanisms to disburse assistance equitably and efficiently;

     (5)  Opportunities for collaboration with airlines, health care providers, and nonprofits to reduce patient costs; and

     (6)  Any additional recommendations to improve access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents.

     (d)  The committee shall be seated no later than September 30, 2026, and shall meet at least once per month, either electronically or in person, in October, November, and December 2026.

     (e)  The committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the legislature on or before December 30, 2026.

     (f)  The committee shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to carry out the purposes of this Act, including staffing, research, travel, and administrative support for the temporary Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Movement Disorder Care; Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee; Patient Access; Interisland Travel; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that access to specialized care for individuals living with Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders is limited in Hawaii.  The State's only designated movement disorder center is located on Oahu, requiring residents of neighbor islands to travel long distances at significant personal cost.

     For many patients and caregivers, traveling to Oahu for consultations, evaluations, and treatment is financially prohibitive and logistically burdensome.  As Parkinson's disease progresses, mobility challenges make air travel more difficult, increasing barriers to timely care.  These inequities raise serious concerns about access, quality of care, and long-term health outcomes for residents living outside Oahu.

     The legislature further finds that creating a dedicated state-administered fund, with the ability to leverage federal grants, philanthropic dollars, and private partnerships, may help offset transportation costs and ensure equitable access to care for all Hawaii residents living with Parkinson's disease.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a temporary Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There shall be established, within the department of health for administrative purposes, the temporary Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee.

     (b)  The committee shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of health, or the director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

     (2)  The director of transportation, or the director's designee;

     (3)  One representative of the Parkinson's community, appointed by the governor;

     (4)  One physician specializing in movement disorders, appointed by the dean of the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine;

     (5)  One representative from a patient advocacy organization, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

     (6)  One representative from the airline industry, appointed by the president of the senate.

     (c)  The committee shall examine:

     (1)  The number of Parkinson's patients residing on each neighbor island and their estimated travel needs;

     (2)  Current costs borne by patients and caregivers for interisland air travel and related lodging or transportation;

     (3)  Potential funding models for a state-administered air transport assistance fund, including state appropriations, federal grants, private foundation grants, and public-private partnerships;

     (4)  Administrative mechanisms to disburse assistance equitably and efficiently;

     (5)  Opportunities for collaboration with airlines, health care providers, and nonprofits to reduce patient costs; and

     (6)  Any additional recommendations to improve access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents.

     (d)  The committee shall be seated no later than September 30, 2026, and shall meet at least once per month, either electronically or in person, in October, November, and December 2026.

     (e)  The committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the legislature on or before December 30, 2026.

     (f)  The committee shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to carry out the purposes of this Act, including staffing, research, travel, and administrative support for the temporary Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Movement Disorder Care; Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee; Patient Access; Interisland Travel; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  352-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1575

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1575 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine mechanisms for improving access to movement disorder care for residents on the neighbor islands who suffer from Parkinson's disease, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center; The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research; Hawaii Parkinson Association; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that access to specialized care for individuals living with Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders is limited in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that the only designated movement disorder center in the State is located on Oahu, which requires individuals with Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders who live on the neighbor islands to travel long distances to receive vital treatment.  This process is costly and becomes increasingly difficult as Parkinson's disease progresses, as it often leads to greater mobility challenges.  Your Committee believes that examining mechanisms to reduce barriers to health care services for neighbor island residents with Parkinson's disease is necessary to ensure all Hawaii residents have equitable access to health care.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $100,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1575, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1575, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,