Connie Liu is the Community Engagement Managing Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, one of Hawaii’s oldest nonprofit civil law firms. With 11 offices statewide, the Legal Aid Society provides comprehensive services including legal aid, financial assistance, and health insurance navigation. The Legal Aid Society was recently awarded over $270,000 in federal funds … Read more
An estimated 34,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in 3 states are now eligible for an extension of postpartum coverage up to 12 months. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through CMS, approved the extension for Maryland, Hawaii, and Ohio this week. The American Rescue Plan included a temporary option for states to … Read more
Hawaii health care advocates recently commended the extension of Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months. State of Reform spoke to 3 experts who helped bring about the extension about what it means for the future of Hawaii maternal health. The extension comes from a $2.4 million appropriation to the Department … Read more
Med-QUEST Division Administrator Judy Mohr Peterson, PhD, had an exciting announcement for members of the Med-QUEST Healthcare Advisory Committee (MHAC) at its meeting on June 22nd: after over 10 years, full Medicaid dental benefits are returning for Hawaii adults. Due to the financial strain of the Great Recession of 2009, the Department of … Read more
Francoise Culley-Trotman is the CEO of AlohaCare, which serves Hawaii’s QUEST Integration Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. AlohaCare recently partnered with Papa Ola Lōkahi to launch Ke Aloha Mau, where members can receive new Native Hawaiian health services, such as hula and lomilomi massage, as a no-cost benefit. AlohaCare’s initial utilization target for these services is … Read more
Med-QUEST, Hawaiʻi ’s Medicaid division, recently announced a $10 million, multi-year commitment to health information and research initiatives at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa to improve health outcomes in the state. The partnership, which has formally been in the works since 2018, supports UH Mānoa’s Health Policy Initiative (HPI). The initiative … Read more
The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the Med-QUEST program on Wednesday to provide outreach, health insurance enrollment assistance, and other Kōkua services for Hawaii’s underserved populations. The contract will award approximately $1.45 million per year to multiple awardees from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. … Read more
A bipartisan, bicameral bill package will prioritize women’s health during Hawaii’s 2022 Legislative Session. The 2021-2022 Women’s Legislative Caucus (WLC), consisting of 16 women representatives and 10 women senators, aims to pass bills that will extend postpartum Medicaid coverage and access to mammograms. WLC announced their eight-bill 2022 legislative package at a panel discussion with … Read more
A compounded tax policy, low reimbursement rates, and more are straining Hawaii’s health care workforce to the point where facilities, particularly on neighboring islands, are beginning to shut down. These gaps in care are contributing to otherwise preventable health disparities in Hawaii. State of Reform spoke with Dr. Scott Grosskreutz, a Hilo-based physician, on the … Read more
With the federal public health emergency (PHE) declaration and subsequent Medicaid disenrollment freeze set to end as soon as mid-January 2022, Med-QUEST is working to ensure the one in three Hawaii residents it serves will receive continuous health coverage. Med-QUEST enrollments have increased 32% over the pandemic, bringing total enrollment to about 450,000 … Read more