STAND. COM. REP. NO.  553-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2001

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2001, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEPHARMACY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase access to prescription medications, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas, by authorizing the operation of remote dispensing pharmacies.

     The Hawaii Medical Service Association and Ho‘ola Lahui Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  Kaiser Permanente Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The Board of Pharmacy, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Hawaii Pharmacists Association supported this bill with amendments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Authorizing the operation of remote dispensing pharmacies in all counties, but prohibiting remote dispensing pharmacies from being operated within ten miles of a pharmacy except in a county with fewer than 100,000 residents; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2001, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2001, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair