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SCR 224

REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION BENEFITS TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MED-QUEST DIVISION TO ENSURE THAT ALL OFFERED HEALTH PLANS PROVIDE TWELVE PER CENT OF MONTHLY INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO EACH RESPECTIVE MEMBER-PATIENT'S PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kurt Fevella

Request Hawaii health insurers allocate 12% of monthly premiums directly to primary care providers to increase preventive care access and physician compensation.

Referred to LBT/HHS, CPN.
#dhs #eutf #healthinsurance #healthcare #med-quest #premiums #primarycarephysicians
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Bill Summary · SCR 224

Legislative bill overview

SCR 224 requests that the Hawaii Employer-Union Benefits Trust Fund Board and the Department of Human Services' MED-QUEST Division mandate health plans to allocate 12% of monthly insurance premiums directly to each member-patient's primary care provider. This is a concurrent resolution—a non-binding legislative request rather than enforceable law—asking state agencies to implement this specific payment model.

Why is this important

Primary care provider compensation directly affects healthcare access and quality. Increasing direct payments to primary care providers could incentivize preventive care, reduce emergency room visits, and improve care continuity. However, this would represent a significant restructuring of how health insurance premiums are distributed and could affect overall plan design, cost structures, and provider networks.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism unclear: The resolution doesn't specify whether the 12% comes from existing premium pools (reducing other coverage) or requires premium increases, creating uncertainty about actual costs to employers and employees
  • Primary care definition: No specification of what constitutes a "primary care provider" or how patients without established PCPs would be handled, potentially creating implementation challenges
  • Market impact: Mandating specific premium allocations could reduce plan options, increase administrative complexity, and potentially disadvantage smaller providers or rural healthcare systems unable to accommodate direct payment structures

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

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