THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2811
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PHARMACIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  (a) The chair of the board of pharmacy shall establish a task force to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of lowering the age at which vaccinations may be administered by pharmacists; assess the feasibility of requiring every pharmacy and remote dispensing pharmacy to have the capacity to transmit and maintain prescriptions and prescription information electronically; and develop a plan for pharmacy participation in the Hawaii Health Information Exchange.  The task force shall conduct research, assess, plan, and evaluate the following:

     (1)  The potential benefits and drawbacks of lowering the age restrictions for pharmacists to administer vaccines to children;

     (2)  The most effective means to lower such age restrictions;

     (3)  Whether additional education or certification requirements for vaccinating pharmacists would be necessary or recommended;

     (4)  Schemas of other states' vaccination age restrictions that allow vaccination of minors by pharmacists in all or limited circumstances;

     (5)  The feasibility, costs, and benefits of requiring every pharmacy and remote dispensing pharmacy to have the capacity to transmit and maintain prescription and prescription records electronically and a time frame for implementing this requirement; and

     (6)  A plan to include pharmacy participation in the Hawaii Health Information Exchange.

     The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any implementing legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2011.

     (b)  The task force shall be situated in the department of health for administrative purposes and the members shall serve without compensation.  The task force shall be chaired by the director of health or the director's designee and shall comprise:

     (1)  One member of the board of pharmacy;

     (2)  Two members of the Hawaii Pharmacists Association;

     (3)  Two pharmacists from chain store pharmacies, including one pharmacist from a national chain store with experience in pharmacy-administered vaccinations to pediatric recipients as young as nine years of age, and one pharmacist from each of two independent pharmacies; provided that the participating pharmacies shall be selected by the task force;

     (4)  One member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; and

     (5)  One member from the Hawaii Health Information Exchange.

     (c)  The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2011.

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect upon approval and shall be repealed on July 1, 2011.

Report Title:

Electronic Prescriptions; Prescription Records

Description:

Establishes a task force to examine the feasibility and desirability of pharmacists giving immunizations to children over nine years of age and under 18 years of age under certain circumstances; the feasibility, cost, benefits and a time frame for requiring pharmacies to transmit and maintain prescription and prescription records electronically; and a plan to include pharmacies in the Hawaii Health Information Exchange.  Effective upon approval.  (CD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.