Hawaii Prepaid Health Care (PHC) Act (PHCA) is a state law (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 393)[1] enacted June 12, 1974[2] in the State of Hawaii to improve health care coverage by employer mandate.
[3] Upon its adoption in 1974, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to require minimum standards of health care benefits by law.
[3] Hawaii State Rep. Yoshito Takamine, the longtime chairman of the House Labor Committee, was one of the law's chief architects and proponents.
In contrast, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers to offer coverage to employees working at least 30 hours per week effective Jan. 1, 2014.
Before the passage of the Prepaid Health Care Act, Hawaii had an uninsured rate of 30%.