Email: "Judge rules on migrant healthcare policies"
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The Associated Press - A federal judge has ruled that Hawai‘i’s government must continue providing lifesaving dialysis and chemotherapy treatments to Pacific Island migrants suffering from kidney disease and cancer. U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright granted a temporary restraining order preventing the state from instituting a new, limited health insurance program intended to save $15 million. The new health program was scheduled to start last week.

His decision came as a relief to migrants from Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands who argue the United States and the state were not living up to a health obligation promised after U.S. nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific Islands a half-century ago. The ruling keeps in place broad health coverage for dialysis, chemotherapy, prescription drugs and doctor visits. A hearing on a more permanent injunction will be held Oct. 19.

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