STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2557

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2320

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTRACEPTIVE SUPPLIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize pharmacists to prescribe and dispense United States Food and Drug Administration-approved self-administered hormonal contraceptives to persons eighteen years of age or older;

     (2)  Specify requirements pharmacists must meet prior to prescribing and dispensing contraceptive supplies, including completion of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education program approved by the Board of Pharmacy within every other biennial licensing renewal period;

     (3)  Require all insurers in the State, including health benefits plans under chapter 87A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and Medicaid managed care programs, to reimburse pharmacists who prescribe and dispense contraceptive supplies; and

     (4)  Amend the definition of "practice of pharmacy" to include a separate provision for the prescribing and dispensing of contraceptive supplies to persons eighteen years of age and older.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawai‘i Public Health Association; CVS Health; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section; LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Council of Life Insurers.

     Your Committee finds that many reproductive health experts have long sought to make prescription contraceptives more readily accessible.  Under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, contraceptives are required to be covered at a $0 copayment, thus removing financial barriers for patients and ensuring that patients have better opportunities to receive contraceptive care.  This measure supports the movement toward expanded access to prescription contraceptives by authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense contraceptive supplies to persons eighteen years of age and older.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

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GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair