STAND. COM. REP. NO. 273-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2525
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No.
2525 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to liberalize regulatory
controls and restrictions on prescription drugs.  Specifically,
this measure:

     (1)  Amends and adds new definitions for clarity;

     (2)  Removes onerous and unnecessary regulatory controls on
          the distribution of the prescription drug, medical
          oxygen;

     (3)  Liberalizes the requirements for filling an out-of-
          state prescription; and 

     (4)  Clarifies requirements and verification measures for
          prescription drug orders.

     The Hawaii Pharmacists Association and Longs Drugs Stores
submitted testimony in support of this bill.  The Department of
Health (DOH) also submitted testimony in support and suggested
nonsubstantive amendments for clarification purposes.

 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 273-00
                                 Page 2

 

     This measure will improve patient care by liberalizing the
requirements for dispensing prescription drugs and medical oxygen
without compromising the DOH's ability to safeguard public
health.  The present out-of-state prescriptions requirements
impede access to needed prescription medications for visitors and
local residents who have physicians on the mainland.  This bill
will improve the process of assigning oral code numbers to
physicians for verification purposes.  Further, this bill will
also clarify minimum content requirements and verification
measures for prescription drug orders.

     Your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive amendments
to the bill for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.
 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2525, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2525, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair