STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1438

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 255

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 255 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN INTERIM TASK FORCE ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF THE STATE AUTHORIZING TRAINED AND SUPERVISED MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO SAFELY PRESCRIBE PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to establish an interim task force to examine the issue of accessibility to mental health care in all areas of Hawaii, and the feasibility of authorizing trained and supervised medical psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications for the treatment of mental illness.

The Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Na Pu'uwai Native Hawaiian Health Clinic, and nine concerned individuals testified in support of this concurrent resolution. The Department of Health, American Psychiatric Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, NAMI Oahu, and two concerned individuals testified in opposition.

Your Committee finds that the issue of prescriptive authority for psychologists has been discussed in Hawaii for many years, and that psychiatrists and psychologists have been unable to reach an agreement that would facilitate the delivery of mental health services in rural and oftentimes medically under-served areas of Hawaii by qualified mental health care professionals.

While in agreement with the intent of the concurrent resolution, your Committee believes that concerns over accessibility and delivery of mental health care in under-served areas has been overshadowed by the disagreement between psychiatrists and psychologists around the issue of prescriptive authority.

Your Committee has made the following amendments to this concurrent resolution:

(1) Revised the language so that there is a tenor of neutrality;

(2) Amended the composition of the task force to include the following individuals:

(a) the Executive Director of the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association;

(b) a designee of the Executive Director of the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association;

(d) a designee of the Executive Director of the Hawaii Psychological Association;

(e) the Chairperson of the House Committee on Health, or a designee; and

(f) the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, or a designee;

and,

(3) Amending the title to "ESTABLISHING AN INTERIM TASK FORCE ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF THE STATE AUTHORIZING TRAINED AND SUPERVISED PSYCHOLOGISTS TO SAFELY PRESCRIBE PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS."

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 255, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 255, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

		____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair