Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1842 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enable pharmacists to provide services in a broader range of clinical settings.

The Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Hawaii Pharmacists Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Longs Drug Stores, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

The Board of Medical Examiners opposed this measure. Hawaii Medical Association submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists are very capable as they are required to go through extensive education. This measure will allow pharmacists to work beyond the walls of the pharmacy and lend their services in other health care settings. Health care providers believe that this will be great assistance in settings such as nursing homes where a physician is on staff, but not always immediately available.

The roles and responsibilities of pharmacists are changing across the nation and in some states, pharmacists are counselors and educators in the evaluation of an individual's drug regimen.

Your Committee has amended this bill by removing language that requires the concurrence of the facility administrator in performing procedures or functions.

Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for clarity and style.

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. 1842, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1842, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.