STAND. COM. REP. NO.  355-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3242

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 3242 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help provide relief to pain patients so they can lead normal lives to the greatest extent possible, by providing them with access to the medication they need.  Specifically, this bill:

     (1)  Clarifies the provisions for prescribing opiate medication for pain treatment; and

     (2)  Extends the time after a prescription has been issued within which schedule II controlled substance prescriptions must be filled.

     These provisions will help pain patients access appropriate medical care to help relieve the debilitating and intolerable discomforts of pain, allowing them to lead normal lives to the greatest extent possible.

     The Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Kokua Mau, American Cancer Society, Kauai Hospice, Hospice of Hilo, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Department of Public Safety supported this measure in part.  The Hawaii Medical Association opposed this bill.

     Your Committee notes that currently, individuals taking these drugs are allowed a 30-day supply, and suggests the supply be increased to a 45-day supply.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Providing that a patient who suffers severe acute pain or severe chronic pain secondary to a diagnosis in any form of disease and chronic condition may, rather than shall, be entitled to receive a prescription of opiate medication for pain treatment under certain conditions;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 3242, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3242, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair