STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1831-06
Honolulu, Hawaii
S.D. 1
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 113, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF AUTHORIZING PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO HAVE OBTAINED THE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE TO PRESCRIBE A LIMITED FORMULARY OF PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE PRACTICING IN FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS OR LICENSED HEALTH CLINICS LOCATE IN FEDERALLY DESIGNATED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS OR IN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is take steps toward increasing access to mental health treatment in rural and other underserved areas of Hawaii by requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to study whether a limited prescriptive authority should be made available to qualified psychologists serving these areas.
The Hawaii Psychological Association, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Association, and a concerned individual supported this measure. The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association supported this measure and suggested amendments. LRB commented on this measure.
Your Committees believe that the study requested by this concurrent resolution will cast a more objective light on what has been an extremely contentious issue, and bring us closer to resolving the acute shortage of appropriate mental health care for those living in our rural and other underserved communities.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 113, S.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Health,
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DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair |
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