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Advocacy

Advocating for Hawaii's Physicians and the People they Serve

The HMA has brought online its webpage for the 2025 Hawaii State Legislature Session Updates (last updated 1/23/25) -- this is a members only webpage so you must be logged in to access this special update page. Updates are provided on that page, NOT on this page. You can join HMA online by going HERE.

The Hawaii Medical Association is YOUR advocate. HMA is committed to supporting and advocating for the needs of our physicians to ensure they can provide excellent care for their patients, that their voices are heard in public policy decisions, and that physicians are compensated fairly and justly.

We encourage physicians and all citizens to engage the political process. Know your elected officials and make sure they know that you vote.

The HMA 2025 Legislative Priorities NEW are now available to the public.

Our 2024 Legislative Report (released May 25, 2024) is available to the public.

Since the General Excise Tax (GET) victory was one of our major wins in 2024, we have a special webpage on this issue available by clicking HERE.

As we begin to prepare for the 2025 Legislative Session, one of the issues we'll be focusing on will be prior authorization. Because of the importance of this issue, HMA has brought online a dedicated webpage: Fix Prior Authorization Hawaii.

Hawaii Medical Association Publications

Having served Hawaii's physicians and our local community since 1856, the Hawaii Medical Association works strategically for long-term impactful changes to public policy which improve public health and the practice of medicine in Hawaii. The HMA Public Policy Committee (previously named the Legislative Committee) serves as the information and advocacy conduit to and from members on matters of legal, legislative, and regulatory concern to Hawaii physicians. Under the leadership of Dr. Beth England (Chair of the PPC), the PPC analyzes public policy issues affecting physicians and healthcare, ensuring that members are kept informed of legal and regulatory changes affecting the practice of medicine. Working with organizations sharing similar concerns, HMA spearheads advocacy efforts directed at government agencies and business entities regarding developments in those areas impacting physicians.

Because of HMA's commitment to effective, thoughtful, and long-term advocacy, our leadership committed in 2022 to having a year-round contracted government relations professional on our team. Every Hawaii physician benefits from HMA's approach and resource commitment to advocacy, whether they belong to HMA or not. Hence, more than ever, we ask every physician to be a member of HMA to ensure we have the resources to advocate for you now and into the future. Every physician can make a difference when we work together, regardless of specialty. For those who are members, thank you. For those who yet to join, please consider joining HMA today by clicking HERE.

Advocacy is important because legislators depend on subject matter experts, like you, to create effective policy and legislation. Because healthcare policy touches everyone, regardless of age, gender, or political party, it is critical that physicians are engaged and that they have opportunities to listen to and share with legislators the potential impacts of proposed policies. 

Since the HMA is committed to long-term and systemic changes in public policy, our priorities reflect these commitments and provide the framework for evaluating and advancing specific policy proposals and initiatives.  

Do you have legislative concerns or ideas?  Send your thoughts to our Executive Director, Marc Alexander and the Public Policy Committee at m.alexander@hawaiimedicalassociation.org.