Rep. Tokuda testifies on her parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act 

US Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, which held a legislative hearing Wednesday on her bill, H.R. 8562. The Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2024 is a bill to improve healthcare access and affordability for Native Hawaiian veterans.

“They served and sacrificed the same as their fellow veterans, yet our country is failing to meet our obligations to them. More must be done to eliminate needless barriers to care for our Native Hawaiian veterans,” said Tokuda during her testimony. “That is why I introduced the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act to ensure Native Hawaiian veterans can access healthcare services in a similar manner as their American Indian and Alaska Native counterparts.”

Currently, the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal Health Programs, and IHS-funded Urban Indian Organizations can seek direct reimbursement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for services rendered to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. Additionally, in 2023, copays were eliminated for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans receiving medical services through VA.

The Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act would codify the same reimbursement relationship between VA and Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems to guarantee access to care across all islands. The bill would also eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for health care and urgent care received through the VA.

The bill is cosponsored by Representative Ed Case (HI-01). Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced identical legislation in the Senate.

Following the subcommittee hearing, H.R. 8562 can now be considered by the full House Veterans Affairs Committee. Rep. Tokuda’s testimony can be viewed below. The text of the measure can be found here.