HB 213: RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a persistent workforce shortage in the health care industry has created difficulties for patients trying to access care, including specialized care such as behavioral health services.  One of the reasons that providers often cite for the difficulty of practicing in Hawaii is financial hardship, with the high cost of living frequently driving providers to leave the State.

     The legislature further finds that in 2023, the legislature appropriated a total of $30,000,000 over fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to fund the healthcare education loan repayment program, which assists health care professionals in Hawaii in repaying their health care educational loans in exchange for medical service in Hawaii.  By all accounts, the program has been extremely successful, helping to improve the lives of health care professionals in the State and making it easier for them to remain and practice in Hawaii.

     The legislature also finds that eight hundred ninety residents were assisted by the healthcare education loan repayment program, which allocated nearly $13,000,000 in 2023.  Of the eight hundred ninety recipients, two hundred thirty-eight were primary care providers, and two hundred fifty were behavioral health specialists.  The categories of health care providers who were awarded loan repayment assistance are diverse and include case managers, certified nurse assistants, social workers, registered nurses, and physicians.

     In addition, the legislature finds that while the healthcare education loan repayment program has significantly benefited those who received loan repayment assistance, there are still large numbers of health care providers who have not yet received relief, including more than one thousand three hundred who are currently on the waitlist.  The legislature additionally finds that it would be in the best interest of the State to continue to fund this transformative program to help address continuing shortages in the health care industry.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the healthcare education loan repayment program to continue to provide loan repayment assistance to health care workers in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the healthcare education loan repayment program.

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.  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 loan repayment for healthcare professionals.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a persistent workforce shortage in the health care industry has created difficulties for patients trying to access care, including specialized care such as behavioral health services.  One of the reasons that providers often cite for the difficulty of practicing in Hawaii is financial hardship, with the high cost of living frequently driving providers to leave the State.

     The legislature further finds that in 2023, the legislature appropriated a total of $30,000,000 over fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to fund the healthcare education loan repayment program, which assists health care professionals in Hawaii in repaying their health care educational loans in exchange for medical service in Hawaii.  By all accounts, the program has been extremely successful, helping to improve the lives of health care professionals in the State and making it easier for them to remain and practice in Hawaii.

     The legislature also finds that eight hundred ninety residents were assisted by the healthcare education loan repayment program, which allocated nearly $13,000,000 in 2023.  Of the eight hundred ninety recipients, two hundred thirty-eight were primary care providers, and two hundred fifty were behavioral health specialists.  The categories of health care providers who were awarded loan repayment assistance are diverse and include case managers, certified nurse assistants, social workers, registered nurses, and physicians.

     In addition, the legislature finds that while the healthcare education loan repayment program has significantly benefited those who received loan repayment assistance, there are still large numbers of health care providers who have not yet received relief, including more than one thousand three hundred who are currently on the waitlist.  The legislature additionally finds that it would be in the best interest of the State to continue to fund this transformative program to help address continuing shortages in the health care industry.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the healthcare education loan repayment program to continue to provide loan repayment assistance to health care workers in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $15,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the healthcare education loan repayment program.

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

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. 1151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 213

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, University of Hawaiʻi System, Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing, State Council on Mental Health, State Health Planning and Development Agency, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Liberty Dialysis-Hawaiʻi, AlohaCare, Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaiʻi-American Nurses Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Dental Association, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, and eight individuals.

     Your Committee finds that to address the State's persistent workforce shortage in the health care industry, the Legislature appropriated a total of $30,000,000 over fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to fund the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, which assists health care professionals in the State in repaying their health care educational loans in exchange for medical service in the State.  Your Committee further finds that while the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program has significantly benefited the eight hundred ninety residents who received loan repayment assistance, there are still large numbers of health care providers who have not yet received relief, including more than one thousand three hundred who are currently on the waitlist.  By continuing funding for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, this measure promotes a reliable and adequate health care workforce by incentivizing health care providers to remain in the State.

     Your Committee notes that this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount.  Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $15,000,000 for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  949

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 213

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Health; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board of Directors; Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Hawaiʻi Section; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; The Queen's Health Systems; Hawaii Dental Association; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; AlohaCare; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaiʻi – American Nurses Association; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaiʻi Chapter; Hawaii Medical Service Association; and numerous individuals.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  323

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 213

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 213 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment program to continue to provide loan repayment assistance to health care workers in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Health; State Health Planning and Development Agency; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board of Directors; Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Hawaii Dental Association; The Queen's Health Systems; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Hawaiʻi Section; Hawaii Medical Association; AlohaCare; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Hawaiʻi Association of Professional Nurses; and four individuals.   

     Your Committee finds that a persistent workforce shortage in the health care industry has created difficulties for patients trying to access health care services, in part because of the combination of the high cost of living in the State and the large amount of educational debt carried by many health care professionals.  Your Committee further finds that the Legislature appropriated a total of $30,000,000 over the 2024-2025 fiscal biennium to fund a Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP), which assists health care professionals in Hawaii in repaying their health care education loans in exchange for a commitment to provide at least two years of health care service to patients in Hawaii.

     In 2023, HELP awarded loan repayments to eight hundred ninety health care workers, including nearly three hundred primary care and behavioral health providers, and had approximately one thousand five hundred applicants waitlisted; these waitlisted applicants will be reviewed, and awards will continue to be provided to the extent that funding is available for 2024 applications.  Your Committee believes that continuing to fund this program will help the State in addressing its health care workforce shortages, encourage health care professionals to remain in the State, and ensure Hawaii's residents receive timely access to health care services.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

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

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $15,000,000.

     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. 213, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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