HONOLULU (HI Now) - Hawaii is facing a healthcare crisis that has been building for decades. Rising costs, limited access to care, a high cost of living, and significant rates of houselessness have created major challenges for residents across the state.
Many families are forced to make difficult choices between putting food on the table, keeping a roof over their heads, or seeking medical care — and too often, their health loses out.
The COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse, pushing people away from routine primary care and into more expensive emergency rooms and urgent care facilities, driving costs even higher.
Dr. Kendrick Moriyama, Executive Vice President and Chief Health Officer of HMSA, warns that the current system is not sustainable — and that transformational, structural change is urgently needed to shift how healthcare is delivered and funded in Hawaii.
That change may be on the horizon with One Health Hawaii — a groundbreaking partnership between Hawaii Pacific Health and HMSA — aimed at aligning strategies to make care more affordable and accessible for all residents. For more information, visit HealthierHawaiiTogether.com.
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