STAND. COM. REP. NO.  853-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 254

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 254, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICINES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow for the regulation of biosimilar medicines to ensure patient safety and access to medicines at lower prices.

 

     The Alliance for Patient Access, Express Scripts, Global Healthy Living Foundation, Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc., International Cancer Advocacy Network, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Biosimilars Council, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Hawaii Medical Association, Alliance of Specialty Medicine, Global Colon Cancer Association, Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, National Psoriasis Foundation, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Region, National Organization for Rare Disorders, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and CVS Health provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that within five business days following the dispensing of a biological product, the dispensing pharmacist or the pharmacist's designee shall communicate to the prescriber the specific product provided to the patient;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112; 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 254, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 254, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair