Hawaii agency must publish a statewide plan on hearing loss

The state health planning and development agency must develop and publish a statewide plan on hearing loss. The plan covers hearing loss in Hawaii, including screening and care for school-age children, adults, and older people. The plan must assess current efforts, hearing loss data, awareness, screening gaps, access to care, workforce training, and related health concerns. It must recommend ways to improve access, affordability, communication support, screening, and outreach. The agency must submit the initial plan to the legislature no later than 20 days before the 2027 regular session.

The agency must submit updates on progress toward the plan’s goals. The updates cover the hearing loss plan and services for people with hearing loss and their families. Each update must include progress, a work plan with tasks and milestones, state efforts, policy or program recommendations, and a review of services coordinated by public and private agencies. The first update is due no later than 20 days before the 2029 regular session. Further updates are due before each odd-numbered regular session and cover the most recently completed fiscal two-year period.

The state provides money to the agency to develop and publish the plan. The appropriation is for Hawaii’s state health planning and development agency. The money is for coordinating the plan, gathering statewide input, consulting experts, and drafting and publishing the plan. The appropriation is for fiscal year 2026–2027.