In January 2005, Hawai`i was awarded a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase competitive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The project, called Hire Abilities Hawaii, represents an innovative collaboration among the Department of Human Services (DHS), University of Hawai`i College of Education Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS), the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor (DOL) and its statewide Workforce Development Council.

Hawaii's Medicaid Buy-In

A Medicaid Buy-In enables people with disabilities to work and use Medicaid by "buying in" (i.e., by paying a premium and/or cost-share). On July 6, 2012, Governor Abercrombie signed HB 2415 into law to establish a task force to implement a Medicaid Buy-In program in Hawaii.

Fourty-five states have a Medicaid Buy-In.
Hawaii and four southern states remain without.
Why are we still waiting?

Learn more about Hawaii's Medicaid Buy-In.