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

Menopause is the natural transition when menstrual periods end, marked by hormonal changes that can bring hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, and other symptoms. It is a normal life stage, but the symptoms are real and very treatable. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we help women move through menopause feeling supported and well.

What menopause is

Menopause is confirmed after twelve months without a menstrual period, usually in the late forties or early fifties, though the transition (perimenopause) can begin years earlier. As estrogen levels fall, many women experience hot flashes and night sweats, disrupted sleep, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and shifts in energy and concentration. These vary widely: some women have few symptoms, others have many, and all of it is worth talking about rather than simply enduring.

How we help

Care is personalized. For bothersome symptoms, The Menopause Society notes that hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for hot flashes and the genitourinary symptoms of menopause, and that for most healthy women under 60 or within ten years of menopause, the benefits generally outweigh the risks. Hormone therapy is not right for everyone, and effective non-hormonal options exist as well. We weigh your symptoms, health history, and preferences together, and we also protect long-term health, including bone and heart health, during this stage.

The mind-body connection

Menopause is as much about mood and sleep as it is about hot flashes. Hormonal changes, disrupted sleep, and this season of life can bring anxiety, low mood, and irritability. Because we integrate primary care and behavioral health, we can treat the physical and emotional sides together, so you are supported as a whole person through the transition.

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 menopause

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Common symptoms include hot flashes and night sweats, disrupted sleep, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and shifts in energy and concentration. They vary widely from woman to woman and often begin in perimenopause, before periods fully stop.

Is hormone therapy safe for menopause?

For many healthy women under 60 or within ten years of menopause, The Menopause Society finds the benefits of hormone therapy generally outweigh the risks for bothersome symptoms. It is not right for everyone, so we decide together based on your health and preferences, and non-hormonal options exist.

Can menopause care be provided by telehealth?

Yes. Much of menopause care, including symptom review, treatment decisions, and follow-up, works well by telehealth, with in-person visits for exams and labs.

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

The North American Menopause Society. (2022). The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 29(7), 767–794. https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/abstract/2022/07000/the_2022_hormone_therapy_position_statement_of_the.4.aspx

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