STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2102

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2423

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2423 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 update chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to clarify who may access information stored in the electronic prescription accountability system.

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

Your Committee finds that, under existing law, certain providers' abilities to access information stored in the electronic prescription accountability system, or more commonly known as the prescription drug monitoring program (program), is authorized only in certain situations. This measure supports the goals of the Hawaii Opioid Initiative by allowing pharmacists to access the program to check for information before dispensing a controlled opioid. This measure will further provide additional checks and balances for Med-Quest and Department of Veterans Affairs staff to ensure appropriate billing for services, prescriptions, and treatment access, and to facilitate compliance with federal law and efforts by the Department of Public Safety to combat the nationwide opioid crisis.

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. 2423 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair