STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1596

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 70

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 70 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO ESTABLISH AND CONVENE A PHARMACY REIMBURSEMENT WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE AND PROPOSE LEGISLATION FOR THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish and convene a Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group to explore and propose legislation for the 2026 legislative session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Walgreen Co., Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that, due to significant and longstanding shortages in the State’s health care workforce, pharmacists are playing a vital role in providing patient care services, especially in rural areas of the State and in cases dealing with the management of chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. However, not all of these patient care services provided by pharmacists are eligible for insurance reimbursement. As a result, there are limits to the number of patients who can be serviced in this manner, despite the benefits demonstrated in patient outcomes. Your Committee further believes that reimbursement for pharmacy services is the crucial next step to ensure that pharmacists can maximize their clinical services, practice within their full scope of licensure, and continue to support their underserved communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to invite the Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner’s designee, to participate as a member of the working group;

(2) Amending its title; and

(3) 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 and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 70, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 70, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair