On June 25, 2025, Gov. Green signed SB 1281 into law. The law extends the temporary requirement for reimbursement parity in telehealth services and permits reimbursable mental health services to be provided via audio-only.
Specifically, reimbursement for telehealth services provided via audio and video must be equivalent to reimbursement for the same services provided via in-person contact. With respect to audio-only mental health services, the law requires reimbursement equivalent to 80% of the reimbursement for the same services provided via in-person contact. However, for audio-only mental health services, the healthcare provider must first conduct an in-person visit or an audio and video telehealth visit six months prior to the initial audio-only visit or twelve months prior to any subsequent audio-only visit.
The requirements apply to policies issued or renewed in Hawaii and sunset on December 31, 2027. Employers sponsoring health plans in Hawaii should be aware of this development and contact their carrier for further information.