Kupuna Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
The council meeting included a transition announcement for the Chair position, with Ritabelle Fernandes succeeding Melissa Ah Ho Mauga. Key discussions focused on the SHPDA and state healthcare landscape, specifically regarding healthcare cost inefficiencies, low Medicare reimbursements, and potential funding opportunities like the AHEAD Grant and Rural Health Transformation. The Executive Office on Aging provided legislative updates on the Kupuna Aloha Project (Act 246), detailing its pilot program structure and timeline, and discussed the Long-Term Care Financing Study (Act 249). The council also established a recurring monthly meeting schedule and identified priorities for the upcoming legislative session, including primary care expansion and integrating social care with healthcare.