Committee backs bill to extend audio‑only telehealth access and establish permanent rules

The House Committee on Finance recommended passage of Senate Bill 12‑81 SD2 HD1, which would extend coverage and reimbursement for audio‑only telehealth services and authorize a longer sunset to allow implementation and study. The bill drew extensive support from provider groups, the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and social‑service organizations.

Providers, including federally qualified health centers and behavioral‑health coalitions, told the committee audio‑only telehealth is a critical access tool for low‑income patients, kupuna and residents on neighbor islands who lack reliable broadband or have low digital literacy. Chrissy Koheene (Director of Tech Equity at Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center) and other FQHC representatives stressed that audio‑only visits have been a lifeline during the pandemic for mental‑health and primary‑care services.

The Office of Enterprise Technology Services asked for the working‑group sunset to be extended to 06/30/2027 to give cross‑agency work time to build sharing protocols; multiple education, workforce and health agencies supported a longer working period for coordinated data and telehealth guidelines.

Action: Committee members approved recommendations to pass the bill with amendments that clarified sunset timing and reporting requirements. The committee also recorded that the bill should be implemented in consultation with Medicaid reimbursement rules and that the department should track utilization and outcomes.

Ending: The committee passed the measure with amendments and asked the Department of Health and Medicaid administrators to return implementation details and utilization data to the committee.