Every fourth Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to hear from a featured speaker as well as updates from the Developmental Disabilities Division, DD Council, SAAC, and more on Zoom.

For April’s meeting, the featured speaker is Meredith Nichols from Medicaid/Med-Quest.

HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.

Join the NTG for a free, three-part webinar series designed for primary care clinicians and allied health professionals supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

This series offers practical, I/DD-informed guidance on recognizing dementia, navigating diagnosis and medical management, and supporting function and safety after diagnosis.

Register for the second session using the link below.

Every second Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to join collaborative ‘talk story’ sessions on Zoom to share concerns, tips, and more about all things Billing.

HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.

Kim Golis-Robello and Allison Finn from Hawaii Employer Resource Network will join HWPA to share how their new organization can support your employees with a diverse toolkit of trainings, assistance, resources, and more. Inspired by an organization focused on employee retention, Hawaii’s ERN helps with anything from SNAP applications to travel arrangements to budget management and beyond. See what kind of benefits your organization can glean from this amazing new resource.

HWPA members will receive an email reminder with the Zoom link to attend this virtual meeting.

Join the NTG for a free, three-part webinar series designed for primary care clinicians and allied health professionals supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

This series offers practical, I/DD-informed guidance on recognizing dementia, navigating diagnosis and medical management, and supporting function and safety after diagnosis.

Register for the first session using the link below.

HWPA has partnered with Catholic Charities Hawaii to host an all-day event on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, at Queen’s Conference Center on Oahu.

The morning session (8 a.m. - 12 p.m.) will include coffee, lunch, and training on the NTG-EDSD screening tool for early detection of dementia. Click here for more information and to register for the morning session.

The afternoon session (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.) includes presentations from the HWPA Board, DD Council, and DDD on waiver provider updates and legislative news. The day will wrap up with keynote speaker Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu sharing how ha’i mo’olelo (storytelling) can be an effective tool for advocacy work, especially from a Hawaiian perspective. Bring your questions for interactive engagement from all speakers!

To register for the afternoon session, please click below and note that non-HWPA member organizations require a $50 registration fee. The fee covers attendance for all attendees from your organization.

Click here to register

HWPA has partnered with Catholic Charities Hawaii to host an all-day event on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, at Queen’s Conference Center on Oahu.

The morning session (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.) will include coffee, lunch, and training on the NTG-EDSD screening tool for early detection of dementia. Click here for more information or click here to register for the morning training.

The afternoon session (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.) includes presentations from the HWPA Board, DD Council, and DDD on waiver provider updates and legislative news. The day will wrap up with keynote speaker Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu sharing how ha’i mo’olelo (storytelling) can be an effective tool for advocacy work, especially from a Hawaiian perspective. Bring your questions for interactive engagement from all speakers! Click here for more information or click here to register for the afternoon session.

Meredith Nichols from Med-QUEST will join HWPA to share the basics of Medicaid in Hawaii and how the numbers have changed over time. She’ll also present on the Affordable Care Act marketplace changes and anticipated impacts of H.R.1 or “OBBBA,” including changes to retroactive coverage, immigrant eligibility, and long-term care eligibility, among other changes like work/community engagement requirements.

HWPA members will receive an email reminder with the Zoom link to attend this virtual meeting.

The Hawaii State Department of Health - Developmental Disabilities Division is hosting a webinar on Zoom for the Waiver Renewal Public Information Session, for waiver providers and DDD staff, participants/families, and stakeholders. Renewal Highlights include:

• Strengthened some Service Definitions

• New Service - Personal Care Assistance

• Updated some service limits

• Added three supplemental payments

• Updated provider monitoring process.

The Hawaii State Department of Health - Developmental Disabilities Division is hosting a webinar on Zoom for the Waiver Renewal Public Information Session, for waiver providers and DDD staff, participants/families, and stakeholders. Renewal Highlights include:

• Strengthened some Service Definitions

• New Service - Personal Care Assistance

• Updated some service limits

• Added three supplemental payments

• Updated provider monitoring process.

The Pacific Law Institute is hosting a webinar on the 2026 Legislative Session on to discuss:

• House and Senate Leadership and Committee Chairs

• Senate & House Policy Focus

• House Finance – Update

• Economic Concerns – Budget and Fiscal Issues

• Impact of Federal Policies

• Health Care Issues

In attendance will be:

• Sen. Karl Rhoads, Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee

• Sen. Brandon Elefante, Member, Senate Ways and Means Committee

• Rep. Linda Ichiyama,  Vice Speaker of the House

• Rep. Chris Todd, Chair, House Finance Committee

• Bob Toyofuku,  Pacific Law Institute President – Moderator

With four (sometimes five!) generations working side by side, today’s workforce spans vastly different eras, expectations, and habits. The question isn’t whether those differences exist—it’s whether we’re asking the right questions to turn them into strength.

As Dr. Alonzo Kelly, whom many will remember from the ANCOR main stage in Chicago, often says: “It takes two generations to forget and three generations not to care.” Those cycles of memory—and the norms and events that shape each generation—profoundly influence how people show up at work. We see it in evolving communication styles, shifting ideas of leadership, and new expectations around feedback and collaboration. Organizations are in constant evolution; leadership has to be, too.

In this community conversation, we welcome Dr. Kelly back to explore what each generation brings to the table—from institutional memory to digital fluency—and practice better questions that bridge gaps, reduce friction, and help experience and innovation thrive together.

Nicole Schlaack, Ph.D. and Evaluation Manager of the HSRI: DOH-DDD Evaluation Project, from the University of Hawaii, Center on Disability Studies, will present findings from the evaluation to HWPA.

Also, don’t miss a special farewell to Mary Brogan from the DOH as she approaches retirement!

HWPA members will receive an email reminder with the Zoom link to attend this virtual meeting.

Details: In honor of Autism Acceptance, we are extending complimentary General Admission tickets to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other Developmental Disabilities and up to 5 members of their friends and family. We encourage attendees to wear blue to show support. All ages are welcome!

RSVP Deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025

This event aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

As Medicaid funding remains stagnant, behavioral health and I/DD providers must explore innovative ways to diversify revenue streams. This webinar, hosted by ANCOR Platinum Partner Core Solutions, will uncover non-traditional funding opportunities that can enhance financial sustainability while staying true to your organization’s mission. 

Drawing from real-world examples and decades of experience, this presentation will cover:

• Identifying viable alternative funding sources at the federal, state, and municipal levels

• Assessing alignment with your organization’s goals and services

• Navigating the steps to secure new revenue streams

Attendees will gain practical insights into securing government contracts, grants, and partnerships that can strengthen financial resilience and reduce reliance on traditional Medicaid funding.

For paid HWPA members only. Details TBA.

Zoom invite will be sent to paid HWPA members a week before the meeting.

The Health & Wellness Program Director from the Hawaii Community Foundation will join this membership meeting as HWPA’s featured guest presenter. Click here to add it to your calendar.

President Trump signed into law in July a budget reconciliation package that mandates all adults who are eligible for Medicaid through the ACA expansion meet federal work and reporting requirements. At a minimum, the 41 states (including D.C.) that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA will be required to verify that individuals are working or meet certain exemptions when they apply for or renew their Medicaid coverage.

At 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 11, four experts, including two state Medicaid directors, will join Health Wonk Shop series moderator Larry Levitt in an hour-long discussion of how states will go about implementing the new Medicaid work requirements. During the discussion, panelists will consider important implementation questions and challenges that states will face in the coming months and years, including: How much will it cost states and the federal government to implement work requirements? Will states be able to meet the implementation deadline (on 12/31/2026)? How will states use or improve “data matching” to automate verification of work activities, hours, and exemptions? What are states watching out for in forthcoming federal guidance and what might be left to states’ discretion?