STAND. COM. REP. NO. 97

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1221

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1221 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 private and public health plans in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hawaii Pharmacists Association, Walgreen Co., The Keto Prescription Clinic, American Pharmacists Association, National Community Pharmacists Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Times Pharmacy, East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association dba Big Island Docs, Community First, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Pharmacy, The Queen's Health System, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists 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 the lack of access to pharmacist services disproportionally affects Hawaii patient populations in the most isolated areas of the State. Aligning the pharmacist reimbursement practices with the provision of their services, comparable to other health care providers, will allow pharmacies to remain open and enable local pharmacists to continue providing vital care to their patients.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1221, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1221, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair