 [introductory comments omitted]
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to convene a Stakeholder Working Group to make recommendations to enhance meaningful access to health care in the State through the provision of language assistance services; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to invite stakeholders, including at least one LEP individual with experience accessing health services, health care providers, insurers, representatives of community-based organizations, language service providers, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, to participate in the Stakeholder Working Group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Stakeholder Working Group is requested to:

 

     (1)  Study and assess language access in health care settings across the State and on each island in the State, including but not limited to:

 

          (A)  Experiences of LEP populations using language assistance services;

 

          (B)  Existing language assistance services and workforce;

 

          (C)  Disparities faced by LEP individuals in access to health care;

 

          (D)  Practice of using family members and friends as interpreters in health care settings;

 

          (E)  Availability of interpreters;

 

          (F)  Requirements for providing interpretation services in medical and health care settings; and

 

          (G)  Benefits and impacts of technologies such as artificial intelligence; and

 

     (2)  Make recommendations to enhance meaningful access to health care in the State for individuals requiring language assistance services; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report of the Stakeholder Working Group's study, findings, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.