STAND. COM. REP. NO.  506

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 651

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 651 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update the Uniform Controlled Substances Act in chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow the electronic prescribing of certain controlled substances, consistent with federal law.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, CVS Caremark, Walgreen Co., Hawaii Medical Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and one concerned individual.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will align Hawaii's law with federal provisions that allow medical practitioners to electronically prescribe controlled substances.  Your Committee believes that electronic prescriptions will provide a secure means of transmitting prescriptions directly to patients' pharmacies and ensuring the timely delivery of medications to patients.   Your Committee also finds that the use of electronic prescriptions will improve drug therapy, provide better medical outcomes, and aid in management of overall healthcare costs.

     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. 651 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair