STAND. COM. REP. NO. 625

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1192

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1192, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require that the dispensing of a pharmacist—prescribed opioid antagonist be reported to the State's Electronic Prescription Accountability System (EPAS); and

 

     (2)  Require that dispensers of a controlled substance report "zero" dispensing if no prescriptions for designated controlled substances are filled, not less than once every seven days.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety and Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, allows pharmacists to issue prescriptions for opioid antagonists, thereby increasing access to lifesaving drugs.  Your Committee further finds that the EPAS acts as a prescription drug monitoring system and is a useful tool to reduce the risk of substance abuse and addiction and helps prevent unintended drug interactions.  According to testimony received by your Committee, efforts to track dispensing and distribution of opioid antagonists are decentralized.  This measure will require pharmacists to report opioid antagonist prescriptions to the EPAS, thereby improving efficiency for reporting and collecting data to prevent opioid overdose.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1192, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair