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Higher Medicare Payments for Hawaii Doctors to Preserve Healthcare Access.

This bill aims to secure and improve healthcare access for Hawaii residents, particularly Medicare beneficiaries. It establishes a minimum payment rate (work geographic index) of 1.5 for physicians' services in the state, resulting in higher Medicare reimbursements for doctors. This financial incentive is designed to encourage physicians to practice in Hawaii, directly benefiting citizens by ensuring better availability of medical services.
Key points
Increased Medicare payments for doctors in Hawaii: The minimum work geographic index is set at 1.5, boosting the reimbursement rates physicians receive for Medicare services.
Goal is to preserve and improve healthcare access: Higher payments are intended to stabilize the physician workforce in Hawaii, crucial for patient care availability.
The changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and do not require corresponding cuts to other Medicare programs.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_8563
Sponsor: Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
Process start date: 2024-05-23
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

PATCH Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_8563.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2024-05-23.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Increased Medicare payments for doctors in Hawaii: The minimum work geographic index is set at 1.5, boosting the reimbursement rates physicians receive for Medicare services.
  • Goal is to preserve and improve healthcare access: Higher payments are intended to stabilize the physician workforce in Hawaii, crucial for patient care availability.
  • The changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and do not require corresponding cuts to other Medicare programs.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-25.

CATEGORIES

Health