More than 75 people came out for a legislative briefing this morning to protest a plan to cut some state-funded medical benefits to about 7,500 noncitizen adults in Hawaii, including dialysis treatment and chemotherapy.

The plan is aimed at saving the state about $15 million a year.
Most of those affected by the change are Micronesians, who are not eligible for federally funded health care.
The new plan goes into effect Sept. 1.
Opponents of the new program say it could be a death sentence to those undergoing treatment for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer.
State Rep. John Mizuno, chairman of the House Committee on Human Services, called the new plan an “injustice.”
“This plan is not acceptable,” he said at today’s hearing.
Those with family members undergoing treatment also raised concerns.
“I’m here on behalf of my husband, my children, my family to again ask you to not cut off this type of treatment,” said Yitha Phillip, 45, whose husband has diabetes and gets his dialysis treatment paid for by the state.
She said without dialysis, her husband would die in one to two weeks.
Dr. Kenneth Fink, of the state Department of Human Services, said the new health care plan is meant as a compromise to continue to provide some medical care to noncitizen adults, but not at the same level as in the past.
“Unfortunately, the state of Hawaiçi is in an economic crisis,” he said. “These are very difficult times. The state is doing what it can to help this population.”