In June, Sen. Mazie Hirono sat down with a group of Native Hawaiian veterans at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) in Honolulu to discuss the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation she is introducing with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI).
This bill would improve the affordability of health care services for Native Hawaiian veterans.
This issue regarding the lack of parity for Native Hawaiian veterans as compared to other Indigenous veterans was first mentioned in my October 2023 Ka Wai Ola column, titled “Copay Exemption for Native Veterans Excludes Hawaiians.”
In addition to improving affordability, the bill would eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would enable Native Hawaiian health care systems to seek direct reimbursement from VA for care provided to Native Hawaiian veterans.
In 2023, copays were eliminated for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans receiving health care and urgent care through the VA. Additionally, Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal Health Programs, or IHS-funded Urban Indian Organizations providing care to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are currently able to seek direct reimbursement from the VA for care rendered.
At the conclusion of the Parity Act presentation, a very fruitful discussion took place with Sen. Hirono and the group regarding the group’s priorities, such as ensuring continued access to care, the need for more peer support from other veterans, improved data collection on Native Hawaiian veterans and housing access for veterans of all ages and economic statuses.
Participants were very appreciative and thankful that the senator took time to present the Parity Act and listen to the issues of the community and that she mentioned a potential future engagement with the group. We would like to thank the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for their support in this engagement and invite the other Congressional staff to sit down and “talk story” with Native Hawaiian veterans.
 in Honolulu to discuss the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation she is introducing with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI).){kind=link}