Bill > HB213

This bill addresses healthcare workforce shortages in Hawaii by continuing to fund the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELRP), which helps medical professionals offset their educational loans in exchange for working in the state. The legislature finds that the program has been highly successful, having already assisted 890 healthcare workers in 2023, including 238 primary care providers and 250 behavioral health specialists, with recipients ranging from case managers and nurses to physicians. Recognizing that over 1,300 healthcare workers remain on the waitlist and that financial hardship is a key reason providers leave Hawaii, the bill appropriates an unspecified amount of general state revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to be administered by the Department of Health. The program aims to alleviate the persistent healthcare workforce shortage by making it financially more feasible for medical professionals to practice in Hawaii, particularly in specialized and critical care areas. The bill builds upon previous legislative efforts, including a $30 million appropriation in 2023, and seeks to continue supporting healthcare workers through loan repayment assistance, ultimately improving healthcare access and retention in the state.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=213&year=2026