Health care includes the prevention, treatment, and cure of physical and mental health issues that may affect human beings. Legal issues related health care may arise—including issues related to (1) the provision of health care services; (2) the payment for health care services—by individuals or by insurance; (3) the privacy of medical and health care records; and (4) the right to make health care decisions for ourselves and others.
In Hawaii, health care regulation encompasses various aspects including service provision, payment, privacy, and decision-making rights. Hawaii mandates that health care services meet certain standards to ensure quality and safety for patients. Regarding payment, the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act requires employers to provide health insurance to employees working over 20 hours per week. This state law is more stringent than federal requirements under the Affordable Care Act. Patient privacy is protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which sets national standards for the protection of health information, and Hawaii's state laws complement these protections. Lastly, Hawaii residents have the right to make their own health care decisions, including the use of advance health care directives to outline their wishes for medical treatment. The state also has provisions for the appointment of a health care surrogate to make decisions for individuals who are unable to do so themselves.