STAND. COM. REP. NO. 653

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 568

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 568, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the electronic prescription task force to develop a plan to implement a mandatory electronic prescription drug program not later than July 1, 2011.

This measure establishes the task force within the Department of Health to develop a plan to implement the mandatory use of an electronic prescription drug program by pharmacists, physicians, and others authorized to prescribe or dispense prescription drugs in the State.  The task force is also required to report its findings, recommendations, and any necessary proposed legislation to the Legislature prior to the regular session of 2010.

     Your Committee finds that, in light of the billions of dollars the federal government is expected to allocate under the federal stimulus package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-5, for health information technology programs, it is imperative that the State lay the groundwork provided in part, by the measure, to be in position to qualify for the federal funds.  It is also important for the Administration to recognize the opportunities under the federal stimulus package to work with the Legislature to maximize the State's share of federal stimulus proceeds.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to facilitate further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 568, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 568, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair