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HCR 76

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A COMPLEX NEEDS PATIENT WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS, SERVICES, AND FUNDING FOR COMPLEX NEEDS PATIENTS WHO HAVE MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT BUT NOT SEVERE DIAGNOSES OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, OR CHRONIC PHYSICAL ILLNESS CONDITIONS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scot Matayoshi

Hawaii requests Department of Health convene working group to study and address service and funding gaps for patients with multiple significant chronic conditions including mental health and substance use disorders.

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#chronicphysicalillness #complexneedspatientworkinggroup #doh #mentalhealthdisorders #substanceusedisorders
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Bill Summary · HCR 76

Legislative bill overview

HCR 76 is a resolution requesting that Hawaii's Department of Health establish a working group to study and address the needs of "complex needs patients"—individuals with multiple chronic conditions spanning mental health, substance use disorders, and physical illness that are significant but not classified as severe. The resolution aims to identify service gaps and funding mechanisms for this population.

Why is this important

This population often falls through cracks in the healthcare system: they're too functional for crisis intervention but too complicated for standard primary care, leading to higher emergency department use, repeated hospitalizations, and poor health outcomes. Better coordination and targeted funding could reduce overall healthcare costs while improving quality of life for a substantial group of patients.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: The distinction between "significant but not severe" is subjective and may be difficult to operationalize consistently across providers and insurance systems
  • Funding concerns: Establishing new services requires budget allocation; unclear whether this resolution commits actual resources or merely requests study and recommendations
  • Scope creep: The broad eligibility criteria (multiple conditions across mental health, substance use, and physical health) could encompass a very large population, making coordinated intervention challenging and potentially expensive

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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