CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 47

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    S.B. No. 513

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 513, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize pharmacists to prescribe and dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptive supplies to patients, regardless of a previous prescription from an authorized prescriber; and

     (2)  Specify the requirements pharmacists must meet prior to prescribing and dispensing contraceptive supplies.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that many reproductive health experts have long sought to make prescription contraceptives more readily accessible.  Research indicates women are more likely to use prescription contraceptives and less likely to have unintended pregnancies when barriers are lifted to contraceptive access.

     Your Committee on Conference also finds that pharmacists are in a unique position to serve as accessible health care providers when they are able to practice at the height of their profession.  Furthermore, all United States accredited colleges of pharmacy prepare student pharmacists in courses related to pharmacology and therapeutic practice, including courses in contraceptive and hormonal pharmacology, reproductive physiology, and women's health.  Pharmacists are also educated on medication assessment and therapeutic recommendations and receive practical experience via clinical rotations.  This measure authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptive supplies to patients, provided certain requirements are met, which will increase access to prescription contraceptive supplies and decrease barriers regarding reproductive health care.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that pharmacists shall be eligible for reimbursement under the Insurance Code, hospital or medical service plan contracts issued by mutual benefit societies, and policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued by health maintenance organizations for prescribing and dispensing contraceptive supplies;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2017; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Finally, your Committee on Conference notes that the Insurance Commissioner has indicated to your Committee on Conference that the Commissioner will be working on appropriate carve out language, to be addressed during the next legislative session, to ensure that each time the scope of a regulated profession that receives compensation from health insurers is expanded, the Legislature does not also have to make a corresponding amendment to the relevant insurance statutes to guarantee payment for that expansion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 513, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 513, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair
____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair