One Health Hawaii is a proposed nonprofit parent organization that would bring HMSA and Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) together under a single locally governed structure. The goal is to better align how care is delivered and how it’s paid for, so Hawaii’s health system can be more coordinated, more sustainable, and more focused on keeping people healthy.
Health care in Hawaii faces growing pressures, including rising costs, workforce shortages, access challenges, and persistent health disparities. Insurance and care delivery often operate separately, even though they serve the same patients and members.
One Health Hawaii is designed to bring those pieces into closer alignment. When health plans and providers work toward shared goals, it becomes easier to:
- Coordinate care across settings.
- Invest in prevention and long-term health.
- Reduce duplication and waste.
- Reinvest savings into community health.
A local, nonprofit model
If approved, One Health Hawaii would be organized as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) parent organization based in Hawaii. Under this model:
- HMSA and HPH would be subsidiaries of the new nonprofit parent.
- As a 501(c)(3), the organization would not have shareholders or owners.
Any savings achieved through improved coordination and efficiency would be reinvested into care, workforce support, technology, and community health initiatives.
An open and inclusive system
One Health Hawaii is designed to support an open system of care. If approved:
- Patients would continue to choose their doctors, hospitals, medical facilities, and insurance plans.
- Employers and members would continue to select from available insurance options.
- Existing contracts with other hospitals, clinics, and providers would remain in place.
- HPH and HMSA would remain open to collaboration with other health care partners across the state.
What happens next?
The proposal is now under regulatory review to ensure it meets all legal requirements. This process includes review by state and federal agencies.
How can I learn more?
Frequently asked questions for HMSA members, employer groups, and providers are below.
The One Health Hawaii website includes additional information including:
- News coverage.
- Research and policy library.
- Resource room.
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Additional FAQs for non-HMSA members, HPH patients, and non-HPH patients.
Frequently asked questions
For HMSA members
Can I keep my doctor?
Yes. You can keep your doctor, your care team, and the relationships you trust today.
Will my insurance coverage change?
No. This partnership does not change your HMSA coverage, benefits, or plan options.
Will this increase my health care costs or premiums?
The goal is the opposite. This partnership aims to better manage costs by improving coordination, reducing inefficiencies, and focusing on preventive care over time.
Why is HMSA doing this now?
Hawaii’s health care needs are changing. Closer collaboration can help improve affordability, access, and coordination while preserving choice.
Can I still choose my hospital?
Yes. You can continue to choose the hospital that’s right for you, including HPH medical centers or any other hospital you prefer.
Will I be required to use HPH facilities?
No. This is an open system. Nothing requires you to use a specific hospital or provider.
Does this affect referrals or prior authorization?
No. Your experience today will remain the same. Over time, better coordination may help reduce unnecessary delays and paperwork.
Who oversees this partnership?
The partnership would be governed by a nonprofit parent organization, One Health Hawaii, focused on serving Hawaii’s communities, with regulatory oversight and accountability.
For employers
Does this change the health plans we offer employees?
No. Your current HMSA plans, benefit designs, and options remain unchanged.
Does this affect premiums or employer costs?
No. There is no immediate change due to the proposed partnership. The long-term goal is to better manage costs by improving coordination and reducing inefficiencies, not to shift costs to employers or your employees.
Is this a move toward a closed network?
No. The model is designed to preserve broad access and choice across Hawaii’s health care system.
Does this require any action from employers right now?
No. Employers do not need to make changes or take action as a result of this affiliation.
Will employees be required to use HPH facilities or providers?
No. This partnership preserves open choice. Your employees will continue to choose their doctors, hospitals, and care teams.
Will this change our relationship with HMSA?
No. HMSA will continue to operate as a health plan serving employers and members as it does today.
How does this benefit our workforce?
Better coordination can support easier navigation of care, fewer delays, and a more sustainable system. This helps employees stay healthier and more productive over time.
Why pursue this affiliation now?
Rising costs, workforce shortages, and system fragmentation affect employers and employees alike. Closer collaboration is intended to strengthen the system while preserving flexibility and choice.
For providers
Does this partnership affect my clinical independence?
No. Providers retain full clinical autonomy. This partnership does not dictate clinical decisions, referral choices, or treatment plans.
Does this change how I contract with health plans or health systems?
No immediate changes are required right now. Existing contracts, arrangements, and relationships remain in place.
Is this an insurer taking control of provider decision-making?
No. This is a partnership under a shared nonprofit parent organization, not an acquisition or merger that overrides provider authority.
How does this support care models that reward quality and outcomes?
Closer alignment allows for better coordination, shared data, and more consistent care management. This supports value-based models focused on quality and outcomes rather than volume.
Will this affect patient choice?
No. Patient choice remains central. Providers and patients will continue to decide what care is right for them, without system-imposed restrictions.
Will I be required to refer patients within a specific system or network?
No. This is an open system. You may continue to refer patients as you normally would.
Will this partnership favor certain providers over others?
No. The model is designed to preserve open access and support care delivery across Hawaii’s broader health care ecosystem.
Will administrative processes change?
Your experience today will remain the same. Over time, closer coordination may help streamline processes, reduce duplication, and improve care transitions, with the goal of lowering administrative burden, not increasing it.
What does this mean for community and independent providers?
Community providers remain essential to Hawaii’s health care system. This partnership is intended to strengthen collaboration across settings, not limit participation or care options.
Why pursue this partnership now?
Hawaii’s health care system faces increasing pressure. Closer collaboration can help support providers, improve coordination, and build a more sustainable system, all while preserving independence and choice.
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