Bill > SB2167

This bill modernizes the Hawaii Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act to address current healthcare challenges, including establishing rules for telehealth services to ensure they are covered at the same level as in-person care, setting strict time limits for health insurance companies to make prior authorization decisions (one business day for urgent requests and three for non-urgent), and requiring that any claim denials made by automated decision systems (like AI) must be reviewed and approved by a human specialist. It also strengthens data protection and privacy by requiring offshore data handlers to meet or exceed U.S. federal standards and mandates timely notification of any data breaches, while expanding the insurance commissioner's authority to investigate and penalize non-compliant insurers, improve network adequacy by ensuring timely specialist referrals and accessible provider directories, and enhance internal and external appeals processes for patients, including providing clearer guidance on how to appeal denials and requiring more detailed explanations for coverage rejections.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2167&year=2026