AGP Executive Report

Flu Watch: Flu activity is starting early, with the region that includes Hawaiʻi reporting the nation’s highest positivity rate at 9.5%. Health experts urge people to get vaccinated now. Coverage Costs: Hawaiʻi employers face double-digit health insurance rate hikes affecting about 500,000 residents. Rural Health Workforce: The state will cover health-care training tuition in exchange for five years of work in a rural area. Heart Care: Queen’s marked a milestone in heart-implant procedures, while Hawaiʻi’s first LVAD procedure helped an ʻEwa Beach man return home. Med-QUEST Changes: Centene plans to leave Hawaiʻi’s Medicaid program at year’s end, adding to the plan choices beneficiaries must make. Maternal Care: Hawaiʻi is among 10 states with no birth centers, despite a new report linking these centers with better health outcomes.

Insurance Costs: HMSA premiums are rising an average of 10% for about 500,000 employer-covered residents, adding pressure on families and local businesses. Centene is also set to leave Hawaiʻi’s Med-QUEST program at year’s end, prompting plan changes for members. Heart Care: Queen’s Medical Center performed Hawaiʻi’s first LVAD implant, allowing an ʻEwa Beach patient to recover at home instead of traveling to the mainland for treatment. Rural Workforce: A new University of Hawaiʻi program will cover medical students’ tuition in exchange for five years of work in a designated rural community, where health worker shortages are acute. Flu Season: Flu activity is rising early; the region that includes Hawaiʻi has the nation’s highest reported test positivity rate, and health experts urge people to get vaccinated now.

South Hilo Water: Residents in Pāpa‘ikou, Pu‘ueopaku, Pauka‘a and Honoli‘i are being asked to use water only for essential needs while crews repair an offline well. Patient Privacy: A multistate settlement over a 2019 Labcorp vendor breach covers 17,347 Hawai‘i residents whose personal information may have been exposed. Flu Season: Flu activity is rising early; the region that includes Hawai‘i has the nation’s highest test positivity rate, at 9.5%. Health officials urge people to get vaccinated, which takes about two weeks to provide protection. Health Coverage: Centene is leaving Hawai‘i’s Med-QUEST program at year’s end, and members facing a plan change have a Tuesday deadline to choose a new option.

Respiratory Health: The CDC expects this winter’s combined peak in COVID-19, flu and RSV hospitalizations to be within 20% of last season’s. Flu activity is rising earlier than usual, including in Hawaii and other West Coast states. Rural Care Workforce: Hawaii will use federal funds to cover tuition for some medical students who commit to five years of work in rural communities, where staffing shortages are acute. Med-QUEST Choices: ‘Ohana members have until Tuesday to choose a new health plan as Centene prepares to leave the state program at year’s end. Cancer Care: Nearly 120 people attended a free UH Cancer Center workshop on exercise during and after treatment, with activities adapted for different abilities and discussion of benefits such as reduced fatigue and anxiety. Dengue Watch: Hawaii has confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026, on Oahu, as mosquito-control teams target the affected area.

Med-QUEST Transition: About 24,000 ‘Ohana Health Plan members have until Tuesday, Oct. 20, to choose a new plan before Centene exits Hawaii’s Medicaid program at year’s end. Members who don’t choose will be assigned a plan; check that your doctors are covered. Medicare Choices: Hawaii seniors are facing confusion over plan changes and tough decisions after losing HMSA coverage. Maui Fire Aftermath: Toxic metals are still being found in residents’ bodies long after the Maui fires, raising continuing health concerns. Dengue Watch: Hawaii has confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026 on Oahu, where mosquito-control teams are targeting the affected area.

Medicaid Access: Centene will leave Hawaiʻi’s Med-QUEST program on Dec. 31, putting 24,000 ‘Ohana Health Plan members in need of new coverage. The company cited rising costs and reimbursement rates that have not kept pace with members’ care needs. Medication Safety: Hawaiʻi residents can drop off unused or expired medicines at designated police stations, with drive-through sites on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, ahead of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 24. Volcano Health: Kīlauea’s latest lava-fountaining episode has ended, but the USGS warns that vog and volcanic glass fragments may still irritate lungs, skin and eyes downwind. Emergency Care: Two people were taken to the hospital in serious condition after a Hālawa house fire; three residents were displaced. Senior Care: Hawaiʻi seniors are navigating Medicare changes and difficult choices after losing HMSA coverage, while many remain confused about their options.

Volcano Health: Kīlauea’s latest lava-fountaining episode has ended, but officials warn that vog and windblown volcanic glass may still irritate lungs, skin and eyes. Medication Safety: Maui County police stations accept unused and expired prescriptions year-round; a statewide Drug Take Back Day is set for Oct. 24, with drive-through sites on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. Kupuna Coverage: About 16,000 HMSA Medicare Advantage members will lose their plan at year’s end, and some other members face higher premiums. Medicare open enrollment is underway, but many seniors remain unsure what to choose. Water Security: The EPA’s $109 million loan will help Honolulu build a desalination plant designed to supply Oʻahu with 1.7 million gallons of drinking water daily and ease pressure on groundwater. Medical Respite: A $900,000 gift from Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg will help expand Kauaʻi’s Pūlama Ola program, which supports people experiencing homelessness as they recover from illness, injury or hospitalization.

Medicare Changes: About 16,000 Hawaiʻi seniors will lose HMSA’s Akamai Advantage Complete Plus coverage at year’s end, and many are unsure what to choose as open enrollment begins. Disease Prevention: Hawaiʻi has confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026, on Oʻahu; mosquito-control teams are responding. Walmart stores statewide are also offering free health screenings and vaccine access today. Water Supply: A $109 million EPA loan completes funding for Oʻahu’s planned Kalaeloa desalination plant, designed to provide at least 1.7 million gallons of drinking water daily and ease pressure on groundwater. Housing and Health: Family Promise Hawaiʻi has launched housing scholarships that pair temporary rent support with case management and links to health care. On Kauaʻi, a $900,000 gift will expand medical respite for people recovering from illness or injury while facing housing instability. Lead Safety: U.S. Army Garrison Hawaiʻi says its water system has no known lead service lines, but its inventory lists some galvanized and unidentified lines; affected residents and tenants will receive notices.

Medication Safety: Hawaiʻi’s Attorney General is urging residents to use Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 24, with collection sites on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi and drop boxes on other islands. Flu Season: Flu activity is rising unusually early; the western region, which includes Hawaiʻi, reported 9.5% test positivity, well above the national level. Skin Protection: The FDA-approved sunscreen ingredient bemotrizinol is reaching U.S. shelves, offering broad UVA and UVB protection without the white cast of some products. Dengue Watch: Hawaiʻi has confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026 on Oʻahu, where mosquito-control teams are responding. Cancer Screening: Cervical screening rates have risen, but Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander patients remained among the groups with the lowest rates. Maui Recovery: Toxic metals linked to the fires are still being detected in residents’ bodies, underscoring lingering health concerns.

Opioid Oversight: CVS agreed to pay $315 million to settle federal allegations that it improperly filled controlled-substance prescriptions, including opioids, and billed health programs. The company did not admit liability. Wildfire Health: New Maui research found elevated toxic metals in residents months after the 2023 fires; higher exposure was associated with impaired lung function. Free Screenings: Walmart’s Kahului store will offer free health checks, pharmacist consultations and vaccinations on Oct. 17, with walk-ins welcome. Dengue Watch: Hawaiʻi has confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026 on Oʻahu as mosquito-control teams target the affected area. Breast Cancer: Hawaiʻi’s 2024 breast cancer death rate was 15.7 per 100,000 women, among the nation’s lowest and below the U.S. rate of 18.7.

Infectious Disease: Hawaiʻi has confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026 on Oʻahu, as mosquito-control teams focus on the affected area. Flu activity is also rising earlier than usual across the West, including Hawaiʻi; health officials urge people to get vaccinated. Community Well-Being: A new UH survey finds Hawaiʻi residents report better health and life satisfaction, though many are considering leaving the islands. Maui Safety: A temporary safe-parking site in Pūʻunēnē is set to open with drinking water, toilets, handwashing facilities and support services for people living in vehicles. Emergency Care: Honolulu EMS has opened a new Kaimukī station to expand emergency medical coverage in East Honolulu. Sun Protection: U.S. stores are beginning to carry sunscreens with bemotrizinol, a newly FDA-approved ingredient offering broad-spectrum protection.

Mosquito-borne Illness: Hawaiʻi confirmed its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026, in an Oʻahu resident; no local spread has been reported, and teams are checking for breeding sites and controlling mosquitoes. Emergency Care: Honolulu EMS opened a new Kaimukī station to expand coverage in East Honolulu. Water Safety: An 18-year-old Kona man died after disappearing while freediving off Captain Cook; police are investigating. Behavioral Health: A virtual outpatient program has launched statewide, widening access to mental health care. Aging in Hawaiʻi: A UH analysis estimates renters 65 and older need about $4,585 a month for basic expenses without assistance, with housing driving the high cost.

Emergency Care: Honolulu EMS opened a new Kaimukī station to expand coverage in East Honolulu. Infectious Disease: Hawaiʻi has reported its ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026; flu activity is also rising earlier than usual nationally, with health experts urging vaccination and basic precautions. Community Well-Being: A new UH survey finds Hawaiʻi residents report better health and life satisfaction, but nearly half are considering leaving the islands. Children’s Digital Safety: Two Hawaiʻi plaintiffs are suing OpenAI, alleging children’s personal and health information was used to train its models without parental consent; separately, a coalition of 40 attorneys general is seeking privacy and safety protections for Character.AI users in bankruptcy proceedings. Water Safety: An 18-year-old Kona resident died after a possible drowning while diving off Pebble Beach.

Dengue Watch: Hawaiʻi’s ninth travel-related dengue case of 2026 was reported on Oʻahu. Health teams are checking for mosquitoes; residents can help by clearing standing water. Emergency Care: Honolulu’s new 24/7 Kaimukī ambulance station has handled more than 200 calls since opening Oct. 4, extending coverage to nearby communities. Food Safety: Golden Coin Bake Shop in Kalihi reopened after correcting refrigeration, food-handling and sanitation violations. Food Access: Oʻahu voters will decide whether to dedicate 0.5% of property-tax revenue—without raising taxes—to food security programs, including local food production. Care Access: Medicare plan changes are raising concerns about patients losing doctors amid reports of limited primary-care availability and long waits. Consumer Protection: An NPR investigation describes a Hawaiʻi woman with a disability who says a spa held her for hours during a “free” facial and pressured her into paying $2,600.

Well-Being: A new statewide UH survey finds residents feel healthier and more satisfied than in 2024, but 46% considered leaving Hawaiʻi, while younger adults report mental-health and affordability concerns. Medicare Access: HMSA is changing Advantage coverage for about 16,000 members; Queen’s won’t join the insurer’s lowest-cost HMO, leaving some kupuna to weigh plans carefully during open enrollment. Public Health: Hawaiʻi has reported its eighth travel-related dengue case of the year, on Oʻahu. Flu activity is also rising early across the West Coast, and doctors are urging people to get vaccinated. Safety and Care: A judge ordered the state to pay $1.1 million to the family of a woman who died by suicide in Oʻahu jail, citing inadequate safeguards despite her known mental-health risks. Water Quality: A Navy well near Red Hill received conditional approval to reopen, but contamination concerns remain.

Well-being: Hawaiʻi’s 2026 quality-of-life survey found residents report better health and life satisfaction, but nearly half considered leaving the islands; younger adults continue to face mental-health strain, and some residents report difficulty accessing care. Medicare Coverage: HMSA’s new lower-cost Oʻahu Advantage plan excludes Queen’s providers, while WellCare is leaving Hawaiʻi in 2027. Members should review their options before enrollment deadlines. Behavioral Health: A virtual outpatient program has launched for residents statewide, expanding access to mental-health care. Public Health: Hawaiʻi has recorded its eighth travel-related dengue case of 2026, on Oʻahu. Water Safety: A Navy well near Red Hill received conditional approval to reopen, but contamination concerns remain. Flu Season: U.S. flu activity is rising earlier than usual in parts of the West, and doctors urge people to get vaccinated; the CDC counted 198 child deaths in the 2025–26 season.