A series of mental health reforms became law Thursday, and state lawmakers touted the measures as a potential solution to the state’s rampant homelessness problem.
Gov. Josh Green signed 22 bills Thursday, all of which were related to health or health care, and many of which he said should help homeless individuals struggling with mental health or substance abuse problems receive the care they need.
In particular, Green highlighted a quartet of measures that will expand mental health services within the state Department of Health.
“Health care has evolved,” Green said. “Health care is not simply about a doctor … admitting someone to the hospital. Health care is about the wellness of society, the well-being of people often on the streets — how do they get the care they need? How do we actually find a way, in a civilized fashion, to care for those who don’t have any chance to find their way back to a healthy state?”
To this end, Senate Bill 3139 establishes a new crisis intervention program within DOH that will steer people suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues toward appropriate care services instead of the criminal justice system.
“Many times, law enforcement is not the right way to help people,” Green said.
The bill clarifies when a law enforcement officer can apprehend a person amid a mental health emergency — i.e. if the officer believes the situation will cause serious harm to the person or others within two minutes — and when to remand the person to the health care system.
Another bill, House Bill 2159, streamlines the process for petitioning for state-assisted community treatment.
Green relayed a grisly story from his days as a medical professional on the Big Island about a homeless woman who had stayed in one spot for so long her femur was directly visible through her ulcerated skin. Through HB 2159, he said, people who clearly need care can more easily receive medical intervention.
“We recently launched our Assisted Community Treatment program, and have already begun to help individuals with such severe mental illness, that they would not be able to access the treatment they need on their own,” read a statement by Kristin Alice, spokeswoman for HOPE Services Hawaii. “Previously, family members or other petitioners would have to hire and pay for legal help to navigate the legal process.”
The third bill, SB 3094, is similar, creating a temporary peer support specialist working group within the state Office of Wellness and Resilience, while HB 1827 allocates $2.4 million for programs to attract, train and retain health care professionals in the state.
“Peer support is not just about empathy,” said Kimmy Takata, forensic peer specialist for nonprofit The Pu‘a Foundation. “It’s about real, tangible benefits. It helps individuals heal, build resilience and reintegrate into society as a stronger, more capable individual.”
Puna Rep. Greggor Ilagan, who co-introduced HB 1827, said the bill will help Hawaii high school students work toward health care careers without leaving the state, while registered nurses will be able to advance their own careers while continuing to work full-time.
“One of the realities we face in Hawaii right now is it’s not just training workers, it’s not just about recruiting workers — it’s equally important to retain workers, because we are losing workers every day,” said Hilton Raethal, president of the Health Care Association of Hawaii.
Meanwhile, Green also signed another 18 health care-adjacent measures Thursday. Those included:
• HB 1830, which establishes licensing requirements for certain therapists, counselors and psychologists;
• HB 2042, which allocates $900,000 to the DOH for youth mental health services;
• SB 3279, establishing a “State of Well-Being” project within the Office of Wellness and Resilience to evaluate mental health services across the state;
• HB 1148, allocating $210,150 to expand mental health programs at Windward Community College;
• SB 3122, which authorizes the state Health Director to issue public health standing orders;
• SB 3125, authorizing minors aged 14 or older to consent to medical care relating to STDs and pregnancy;
• HB 1686, which increases vehicle insurance benefits for chiropractic treatments from $75 to $100;
• SB 63, which streamlines the process for the Board of Nursing to issue permits to out-of-state registered nurses;
• SB 2119, allowing out-of-state pharmacies to transfer prescription information to be obtained in the state;
• HB 1836, which allows pharmacists to, at their own discretion, refill prescriptions for people impacted by an ongoing state of emergency;
• SB 2476, allowing licensed dental hygienists to screen for and apply dental sealants in a school-based oral health program;
• SB 2529, streamlining language regarding health care provider orders for life-sustaining treatment;
• HB 1944, which authorizes certain radiographical coverage for workers with spinal injuries without a treatment plan;
• HB 1889, which expands firefighters’ medical coverage to include breast cancer and gynecologic cancer;
• SB 2837, which transfers the Maui State Veterans Home to a different state agency;
• HB 2393, requiring health insurers to cover mammograms as favorably as other radiological exams;
• HB 2553, authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccines to patients 3 years old or above; and
• HB 2577, authorizing the DOH to require the Department of Education to publicly announce COVID-19 outbreaks.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.