Conversations at HMA is pleased to welcome our HMA Public Policy Committee (PPC). They will lead a focused discussion on the specific bills active in the state legislature that cover:

• Access to Primary Care
• Mitigating Federal Budget Cuts
• Covering Underinsured Patients
• The Primary Care Workforce - Quality of Care, Loan Repayment, and the Preceptor Tax Credit

Advocacy is one of the primary functions of HMA, and the Public Policy Committee invests an enormous amount of hours combing through bills, preparing testimonies, contacting fellow physicians, and speaking with state leaders.

Our panel for this Conversation:

Elizabeth Ann Ignacio, MD - PPC Chair

Christina Marzo, MD & Robert Carlisle, MD - PPC Vice Chairs

On December 18, 2025, a special edition of Conversations at HMA brought together representatives from Hawai'i's three largest healthcare providers: Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH), The Queen's Health Systems, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. These three thought leaders shared their assessment on Hawai'i's healthcare environment, how all providers affect its landscape, and their visions towards making healthcare accessible, equitable, and sustainable for Hawai'i's people.

They also discussed the potential affiliation between HPH and HMSA, and how this may impact our healthcare environment.

The panelists are:

Raymond Vara, Jr.
President & CEO, Hawaii Pacific Health

Jason Chang
President & CEO, the Queen's Health Systems

Edmund Chan
President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals in Hawaii

Nadine Tenn Salle, MD
President, Hawaii Medical Association
Moderator

This episode of HMAConnect interviews Albert Newmann, Director of Hospital Services, and Sean Cervone, Family Services Coordinator, from Legacy of Life Hawai'i.

Legacy of Life Hawai’i is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and the only organization in Hawai'i federally designated to recover organs and tissue for transplant. Legacy of Life Hawai`i works closely with our island hospitals to cultivate an understanding in our diverse communities that life is worth giving.