Office of the Auditor | State of Hawai`i

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AUDITOR’S SUMMARY

WE WERE REQUESTED BY THE LEGISLATURE through House Concurrent Resolution No. 171, Senate Draft 1 (Regular Session 2025), to assess the social and financial effects of mandating insurance coverage for continuous glucose monitors to monitor blood glucose levels for persons diagnosed with diabetes as proposed by House Bill No. 820 (Regular Session 2025). A continuous glucose monitor is a diabetes management tool that automatically estimates a person’s blood glucose level every few minutes throughout the day and night, allowing users to review changes and spot trends. 

The Legislature has long recognized the impact of diabetes in Hawai‘i. Since 2000, Hawai‘i law has required medically necessary coverage for outpatient diabetes self-management training, education, equipment, and supplies when prescribed by a health care professional. That law (Section 431:10A-121, HRS) already provides coverage for outpatient diabetes self-management training, education, equipment, and supplies when determined to be medically necessary and are prescribed by a health care professional.

Insurers we surveyed confirmed that continuous glucose monitors prescribed by a healthcare provider and determined to be medically necessary are currently covered under the statute. As such, we conclude that House Bill No. 820, which reiterates coverage for continuous glucose monitors when medically necessary and prescribed, would not alter existing insurance coverage requirements under Hawai‘i law. We, therefore, do not believe that House Bill No. 820, if passed, will have any material effects, social or economic.