The joint committees moved House Bill 556 forward after testimony highlighted gaps in access to colonoscopy for uninsured and underinsured Hawaii residents whose stool‑based screening tests return positive results.

Andrew Van Wieren, chief medical officer at Community Clinic of Maui (a federally qualified health center), described cases in which uninsured patients had positive fecal immunochemical tests or at‑home screening tests but were unable to obtain timely colonoscopies because of cost and logistical barriers in the state.

Cynthia Au of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said the Hawaii colorectal cancer task force identified access barriers and recommended a program modeled on the Hawaii Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program to ensure equitable screening and follow‑up care for uninsured people.

Clinicians and American Cancer Society representatives emphasized that increased screening and access to diagnostic colonoscopy can prevent deaths from colorectal cancer, which remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.

During committee action, members adopted technical amendments including correcting references from Medicare to Medicaid where those were in error and adding a defective effective date. The committees noted the bill’s appropriation line is blank and instructed report language to document an amount for subsequent deliberations. Both the Health committee and the Committee on Human Services and Homelessness approved the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments.

Why it matters: Supporters argued HB556 would create a formal mechanism to fund and coordinate colonoscopy access for uninsured people who screen positive, reducing preventable deaths. DHS and other agencies submitted comments and recommended technical fixes and coordination to avoid replacing or reducing other executive‑budget priorities.