STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1160

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 513

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 513, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize pharmacists to independently prescribe and dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptive supplies without a prior prescription and subject to specified education and procedural requirements.  This measure also authorizes insurance reimbursements to pharmacists for contraceptive supplies prescribed and dispensed.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, Walgreen Co., and many individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     Your Committee notes the concern raised in the Department of Health's testimony that the inclusion of provisions relating to health insurance reimbursements to pharmacists may constitute a new required insurance benefit subject to review by the Auditor.  Your Committee notes that this measure is a work in progress and respectfully requests that your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce further investigate this issue, should that Committee choose to deliberate further on this measure.

     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 S.B. No. 513, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 513, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair