STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3459

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 135

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF PHARMACY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW THE CURRENT SCOPE OF PRACTICE, LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACISTS AND CONSIDER WHETHER THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND CORRESPONDING LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACISTS SHOULD BE ENHANCED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Pharmacy to convene a working group to review the current scope of practice, licensing requirements, and continuing education requirements for pharmacists and consider whether the scope of practice and corresponding licensing requirements for pharmacists should be enhanced.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Walgreen Co., Hawaii Pharmacists Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists are vital members of a primary health care team. Although traditionally, pharmacists' scope of practice included dispensing prescription medications, advancements in technology, increased pharmacy education, and legislatively-expanded scope of practice requirements have enabled pharmacists to have more direct access to patients. In addition to dispensing medications, pharmacists now provide immunizations, wellness screenings, routine laboratory tests, and routine drug therapy-related patient assessment procedures. Pharmacists are also often the last point of contact a patient has with a medical professional, especially for those patients with chronic conditions requiring complex medication therapies.

Your Committee further finds that pharmacists should be permitted to practice at the top of their training. Increased pharmacy services and accessibility have even greater potential to enhance delivery of public health services throughout the State. However, to ensure consumer safety and appropriate delivery of health care services, it is important for the Board of Pharmacy to convene a working group of interested stakeholders, who can review the existing scope of practice, licensing requirements, and continuing education requirements for pharmacists and consider whether to enhance or expand these areas.

Your Committee notes that as pharmacists work collaboratively with licensed physicians, adding a physician member to the working group would be beneficial.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a representative from the Hawaii Medical Association to the working group; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 135, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 135, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair