STAND. COM. REP. NO.265-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2049
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Health and Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2049 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OPTOMETRY,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to:
(1) Repeal the Joint Formulary Advisory Committee (Formulary Committee);
(2) Allow optometrists to use and prescribe pharmaceutical agents established by the Board of Optometry;
(3) Require optometrists to consult with an ophthalmologist or other physician licensed to practice medicine if certain medications are used on a patient and there is a reaction or no improvement in the treated condition;
(4) Allow therapeutically certified optometrists to use and prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and
(5) Prohibit therapeutically certified optometrists from using injectable agents.
The Board of Examiners in Optometry, Hawaii Optometric Association, and several optometrists testified in support of this measure.
The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaii Ophthalmological Society, and many optometrists opposed this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments.
Your Committees received much opposing testimony from practicing optometrists who believe that the Formulary Committee has been very effective. However, your Committees also heard very compelling testimony from several optometrists, including one who serves on the Formulary Committee, that, although the Formulary Committee was very effective when it was initially established, it is no longer effective. Additionally, testifiers claimed that optometrists are still prescribing off of a list approved in 1998 and that the Formulary Committee hinders the approval process. All other states' boards of optometry decide which medicines optometrists can use.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Consumer Protection and Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2049 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Consumer Protection and Commerce,
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____________________________ KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair |
____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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