STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1536

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 693

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHARMACISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to mandate reimbursement for services provided by pharmacists within their scope of practice by public and private health plans in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Pharmacy, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hawaii Primary Care Association, The Family Medicine Center, American Pharmacists Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, AARP Hawai‘i, Big Island Docs, Walgreen Co., Hawai‘i Pharmacists Association, Community First Hawai‘i, Hawaii Medical Association, Maika‘i Health Corporation, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, The Queen's Health System, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and AlohaCare.

Your Committee finds that there are thirty-one areas in the State that are designated as health professional shortage areas. Your Committee further finds that there were over 2,600 pharmacists in the State who provided high level health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Committee also finds that there is a significant return on investment and long-term cost savings when pharmacists are more involved in the provision of patient care. However, your Committee finds it prudent to conduct an assessment of the social and financial impacts of mandating health insurance reimbursement for services provided by pharmacists.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting provisions relating to mandatory reimbursement for services provided by pharmacists within their scope of practice by public and private health plans in the State;

(2) Requiring the Auditor to conduct an impact assessment report on the social and financial impacts of mandating reimbursement for services provided by pharmacists within their scope of practice by public and private health plans in the State and submit the report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2024;

(3) Inserting an appropriation for an unspecified amount for the Auditor to conduct the required impact assessment report; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair