STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1479

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 535

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 535, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHARMACISTS PRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that an opioid antagonist may be prescribed and dispensed in the name of an individual at risk for an opioid overdose or in the name of a family member or caregiver of an at-risk individual who is requesting the opioid antagonist.

The Board of Pharmacy, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Walgreen Co., Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Opioid Initiative, and one individual provided comments.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the definition of "at risk individual";

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees note the concerns raised by Kaiser Permanente and Walgreen Co. that the definition of an individual "at risk for an opioid overdose" will preclude a pharmacist from using his or her discretion when prescribing naloxone. Therefore, inclusion of this verbiage may preclude individuals from legally obtaining such a prescription when needed.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 535, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 535, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce,

____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair