COPD Care in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a long-term lung condition in which the airways become inflamed and partly blocked, making it progressively harder to breathe. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, yet it is both treatable and, in large part, preventable. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we diagnose COPD, slow its progression, and help you stay active and breathe more easily.

What COPD is

COPD is an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Over time, the airways and air sacs in the lungs lose their normal elasticity and become inflamed and narrowed, so air gets trapped and breathing takes more effort. The most common cause is long-term exposure to irritants, especially tobacco smoke, though air pollution and certain occupational exposures contribute as well. Damage builds gradually, which is why symptoms often appear only after years.

Why it matters

COPD is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. But its course can be changed. Stopping exposure to smoke, the right medications, vaccines, and pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce symptoms, prevent flare-ups, and help people stay active and out of the hospital. The 2025 GOLD report also highlights the close link between COPD and heart disease, which is part of why whole-person care matters.

How we diagnose it

We diagnose COPD using your history of symptoms and exposures together with a simple breathing test called spirometry, which measures how much and how fast you can exhale. We also assess how COPD is affecting your daily life and look for related conditions, such as heart disease, so the plan addresses the whole picture.

How we treat and manage it

Following the 2025 GOLD strategy, treatment is tailored to your symptoms and your risk of flare-ups. Inhaled medications open the airways and reduce inflammation, vaccines lower the risk of serious infections, and pulmonary rehabilitation builds strength and breathing capacity. If you smoke, the single most powerful step is quitting, and we will support you through it without judgment. Much of this ongoing care works well by telehealth, with in-person visits for breathing tests.

The mind-body connection

Living with breathlessness is hard, and anxiety and depression are common in people with COPD, sometimes making symptoms feel worse. Because we integrate primary care and behavioral health, we can treat the breathing and the emotional weight together, which helps people stay engaged in their care and their lives.

Culturally grounded care

We care for the whole person, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your wellbeing and to live pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your whole story, welcome your ʻohana into the process, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects who you are is at the heart of how we practice.

Insurance and how we see you

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new patients in Hilo. Primary care works best as a partnership. Your first visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see patients in person for physical exams, vitals, and lab work, and we use telehealth for follow-up visits, medication management, and chronic-disease check-ins whenever it is clinically appropriate.

Common questions about COPD

Is COPD reversible?

The lung damage in COPD is not fully reversible, but its progression can be slowed and symptoms greatly improved. Quitting smoking, the right inhalers, vaccines, and pulmonary rehabilitation make a major difference.

What is the most important thing I can do for COPD?

If you smoke, quitting is the single most effective step to slow COPD and protect your lungs. We provide support and treatment to help you quit, alongside inhalers and vaccines.

Can COPD be managed by telehealth?

Yes. Symptom reviews, medication adjustments, quit-smoking support, and follow-up work well by video, with in-person visits for spirometry and exams.

What insurance do you accept?

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new patients in Hilo.

References

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. (2025). Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2025 report). https://goldcopd.org/2025-gold-report/

Venkatesan, P. (2025). What’s new in the 2025 GOLD report. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12097743/

Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/

This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you think you may have a medical condition, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner