HawaiiHawaii coordinates emergency care and permits supervised community telehealth services
Hawaii’s Department of Health oversees statewide emergency communications and 911 dispatch as part of a care network linking community services, emergency response, and hospitals.
What it does
Hawaii’s Department of Health oversees statewide emergency communications and 911 dispatch planning. It can also override county decisions about emergency service levels after consulting its advisory council.
In counties with fewer than 500,000 people, approved licensed workers can arrange telehealth through the community care program, including consultations with providers outside Hawaii, under approved protocols and medical direction.
State-approved basic emergency care workers may place tourniquets, start intravenous lines, and use heart-shock devices under a state-licensed clinician’s direction and personal supervision, following Department of Health rules.
A 23-member council advises Hawaii’s Department of Health on emergency care. Its members include county representatives, a children’s doctor, and two surgeons or clinicians experienced in trauma or acute care.
Hawaii’s medical communications center helps arrange emergency air transport and tracks those trips. Air ambulance providers statewide must report requested data, including patient information and medical outcomes.
Argument forApproved telehealth consultations could help patients reach distant providers through local care workers, including when those providers are outside Hawaii.
Argument againstState authority to override county service decisions could reduce local control over how emergency care meets community needs.
More detail
Hawaii’s Department of Health maintains statewide emergency communications and oversees development and implementation of a statewide 911 dispatch system. The statewide care network connects community services, emergency response, and hospital care. Counties determine their emergency service levels unless the Department of Health determines otherwise. The Department of Health must consult the Hawaii emergency medical systems of care advisory council when determining otherwise than the county. The law took effect upon approval on June 4, 2026.
The Department of Health runs the community paramedicine and mobile integrated health care program, which brings health services into communities. The program covers counties with fewer than 500,000 people. Telehealth may include live consultations, exchanges that happen at different times, and remote patient monitoring. Licensed medical services workers need Department of Health approval to arrange telehealth care. Interactions must follow approved program protocols and medical direction. The Department of Health must adopt program rules and may set standards for telehealth use.
State-approved basic emergency care workers may perform the listed procedures under a state-licensed clinician’s direction and personal supervision. The permission covers state-approved workers who provide basic life support, meaning first aid and basic emergency patient care. Workers must follow Department of Health rules. Basic emergency care excludes invasive medical procedures except those expressly allowed.
The Hawaii emergency medical systems of care advisory council advises the Department of Health on emergency care planning and performance. The council includes four nonvoting agency representatives and 19 appointed members drawn from patients and health care professions. The governor appoints 19 members representing all counties. At least one of the five physician members must practice children’s medicine and hold or qualify for specialist board certification.
The Department of Health’s medical communications center helps arrange emergency air transport and keeps a registry of those trips. The center works with health care facilities and air ambulance providers statewide. Transport may use licensed air ambulance providers or the United States Coast Guard. Air ambulance providers must submit the data the Department of Health specifies and requests. Emergency helicopter use, including rules for deciding which patients need transport, must be based on national guidelines identified in the law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 4Act 085, 06/04/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1185).Latest
- Jun 4Act 085, on 06/04/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1185).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 7Transmitted to Governor.
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 53-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 53-26).
- Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
- Apr 24The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Grandinetti, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 24The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
- Apr 23Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).Minor
- Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 3:15PM in conference room 329.
- Apr 22Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Chang Co-Chair; Fevella.
- Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Grandinetti Co-Chairs; Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos.
- Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
- Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
- Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
- Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 679) in amended form (SD 1).
- Apr 10Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3759) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
- Apr 7The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Mar 25Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3178) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
- Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.Minor
- Mar 18The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
- Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 395).Minor
- Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
- Mar 12Referred to HHS, JDC.Minor
- Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1064-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
- Mar 3The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Feb 18Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 361-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
- Feb 11The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 02-11-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Jan 30Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 5Minor
- Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
- Jan 26Pending introduction.Introduced
HealthcareEmergency Management