Hawaii Senate Bill SR167

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/19/26

Caption

Supporting The Reactivation Of, And Urging The Governor To Appoint Members To, The Hawaii Health Authority To Plan For A Transition To A Maximally Cost-effective Single-payer Health Care System For The State, To Be Implemented As Soon As Possible After Waivers Have Been Obtained To Capture All Major Sources Of Federal Funding Flowing To The State Through Medicare, Medicaid, And Tricare.

Summary

SR167 is a Senate resolution expressing support for reactivating the Hawaii Health Authority and urging the Governor to appoint its members. The resolution frames the Authority as the body responsible for planning a transition to a maximally cost-effective single-payer health care system for Hawaii, with implementation to occur after the State secures necessary federal waivers to preserve major federal funding streams tied to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The resolution’s findings argue that recent federal Medicaid cuts and Hawaii’s high health care costs make a more efficient financing model necessary. It cites projected losses in Medicaid spending, the large share of residents covered by Medicaid, and the burden of health care costs on the state budget. It also asserts that a single-payer model could reduce administrative overhead for hospitals, physicians, and the state, and redirect savings toward primary care, behavioral health, and programs for high-risk patients.

Impact

SR167 does not directly amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes, appropriate funds, or create a new program; instead, it is a policy resolution urging executive action under an existing statutory framework. Its practical effect would be to restart the inactive Hawaii Health Authority, prompt gubernatorial appointments, and require the Authority to report progress and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature before the 2027 session. The resolution also signals interest in future legislation and waiver-seeking efforts related to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE financing.

Sentiment

The resolution is strongly supportive of single-payer planning and reflects a favorable view of reactivating the Hawaii Health Authority. The bill text presents the proposal as a response to federal Medicaid cuts and rising health care costs, emphasizing savings, expanded access, and system efficiency. No committee transcript or vote history was provided, so the broader legislative sentiment beyond the resolution’s own supportive framing is not available.

Contention

The main points of contention likely concern the feasibility and desirability of moving toward a single-payer system, including whether Hawaii could obtain the necessary federal waivers and whether projected administrative savings would materialize. Potential concerns also include the impact on private insurers, provider reimbursement, implementation complexity, and the risk of disrupting existing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE funding arrangements. Because no committee discussion or vote record is included, specific supporters or opponents are not identified in the available materials.