Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the joint formulary advisory committee to use the most current Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) in developing drug formularies for optometry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Ophthalmological Society and Hawaii Medical Association. The Hawaii Optometric Association and numerous individuals submitted testimony in favor of the measure with amendments. The Board of Examiners in Optometry testified against the measure.

Current formulary recommendations are based on the 1998 PDR. Since 1998, however, new, improved, or more cost-effective medications have been developed. This measure requires the joint formulary committee to use the most current version of the PDR in developing formulary recommendations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.