Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure, as received, was to:

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Board of Examiners on Optometry, Hawaii Optometric Association, and thirty-one optometrist. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Association, and twenty-two ophthalmologists.

Your Committee understands that Hawaii is unique in that it does not require the Board of Examiners in Optometry to determine which pharmaceutical agents will be allowed to be prescribed by therapeutically certified optometrists. The joint formulary advisory committee was intended to be a built in safeguard, and your Committee is not convinced at this time that it's abolishment is warranted. Your Committee is aware that 49 states have a board make these determination, but your Committee is also aware that 43 of these state have numerous restrictions on the formulary. Thus, your Committee needs time to look at the 43 states with the restrictions and develop legislation to fit Hawaii's community.

Your Committee is concerned that the advisory committee was using the 1998 Physician's Desk Reference. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by removing its contents and replacing it with language which would require the joint formulary advisory committee to use the current Physician's Desk Reference when making formulary determinations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.