Bill > SB450

This bill appropriates funds to increase reimbursement for applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services for individuals with autism through Hawaii's Med-QUEST Division, which is a state Medicaid program. The bill allocates an unspecified amount of money from the state's general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with the funds to be spent by the Department of Human Services specifically to enhance ABA service reimbursements. Applied behavioral analysis is a type of therapy commonly used to help individuals with autism develop skills and manage challenging behaviors. Notably, while the bill seems intended to improve access to autism services, it has a very distant future effective date of December 31, 2050, which is unusual and might suggest this is a placeholder or draft legislation. The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding, leaving it open to "so much thereof as may be necessary" for the designated fiscal years.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=450&year=2025