STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2075

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 70

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 70, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR 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 of this measure is to request the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish and convene a Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group to explore and propose legislation mandating health insurance coverage reimbursement for pharmacy services for the 2026 Legislative Session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association and Walgreen Co.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists are geographically dispersed throughout the State's communities and can bridge the gaps created by the State's physician shortage by educating patients on how and when to check blood sugar, ways to avoid and manage hypoglycemia, how to take their medications correctly to avoid adverse effects, and various medication utilization techniques. Your Committee further finds that, given the critical role pharmacists play in ensuring access to health care to the State's residents, pharmacists should be appropriately reimbursed for the clinical services they provide within their scope of practice. This measure recognizes the importance of pharmacists to Hawaii's health care system and establishes a working group that will, among other things, propose legislation mandating reimbursement for pharmacy services, which represents the next step in ensuring the State's pharmacists can maximize their clinical services and practice within their full scope of licensure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 70, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair