STAND. COM. REP. NO.  23-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   H.B. No. 1950

      H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1950 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the scope of health care services that pharmacists may furnish independently and directly to patients outside of limited health care settings or prior contractual agreements with specific health care providers.  Specifically, this measure authorizes licensed pharmacists with appropriate training and education to independently:

     (1)  Order laboratory tests to determine appropriateness of medications prescribed;

     (2)  Administer specified vaccines;

     (3)  Transmit valid prescriptions to other pharmacists, provide patient counseling and education, and provide consultation and education services to other health care providers; and

     (4)  Furnish opioid antagonists, epi-pens, hormonal contraception, travel medications, and nicotine replacement therapy to patients without a doctor's prescription.

The Dean of the University of Hawaii at Hilo-Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, Walgreens Co., and several concerned individuals testified in support.  The Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, and Hawaii Medical Service Association offered comments.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that the Departments of the Attorney General and Commerce and Consumer Affairs offer any comments those Departments may have on this measure to the Committee on Intrastate Commerce, should that Committee further deliberate on this measure.  Your Committee further respectfully requests that the adequacy of the definition of "furnishing" health care services or medications be considered as this measure moves through the legislative process.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1950, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1950, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Intrastate Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair