August 26, 2025
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.
Read more on SB 1281.
PPI Benefit Solutions does not provide legal or tax advice. Compliance, regulatory and related content is for general informational purposes and is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. You should consult an attorney or tax professional regarding the application or potential implications of laws, regulations or policies to your specific circumstances.
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