Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2981 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

The Hawaii Nurses' Association, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii Chapter of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners/Nurses, East Hawaii National Association of Social Workers, the Waikiki Health Center, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Nursing Board supported this measure with amendments. The Board of Medical Examiners and Hawaii Medical Association opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that APRNs have the education, training, and certification necessary to prescribe certain medications as appropriate to a patient's condition. Additionally, many nurse practitioners practice in rural or underserved areas where there is a great need for medical services, but there are few providers.

Your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce to further discuss concerns raised regarding the establishment of a new formulary advisory committee under the Nursing Board.

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. 2981 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.