STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1665

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 426

       H.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 426, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide individuals receiving public assistance greater accessibility to psychotropic medications.

     Specifically, this measure provides prescriptive authority under chapter 457, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and repeals the sunset date on the law that ensures continuous access to psychotropic medications for Medicaid fee-for-service and QUEST plan beneficiaries.

     Your Committee received written comments from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that enabling Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with prescriptive authority to prescribe psychotropic medications to Medicaid and QUEST patients will help improve access to quality health care for Medicaid beneficiaries.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 426, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair