STAND. COM. REP. NO. 914-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1836

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1836, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to, during a state of emergency, allow pharmacists to refill prescriptions of up to a thirty-day supply of controlled substances if the practitioner is unavailable to authorize the refill and if, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, failure to refill the prescription may interrupt the patient's ongoing care and have a significant adverse effect on the patient's well-being.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; Disability and Communication Access Board; Board of Pharmacy; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaii Medical Association; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Pharmacists Association; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Walgreen Co.

Your Committee finds that prescription refills play an important role in allowing patients to get their medication without frequent office visits and support patient adherence to medications for chronic conditions. Typical pharmacotherapy requires a patient's adherence to the regimen to achieve the therapeutic outcome, especially in patients with chronic conditions. Abrupt cessation or unplanned interruption of therapy may lead to undesirable outcomes.

Your Committee further finds that, during times of emergency, patients may face significant challenges that impede their ability to timely receive a necessary prescription for a refill. This measure, by authorizing pharmacists to refill prescriptions during a state of emergency, promotes patient health and safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the authorization to refill for up to a thirty-day supply applies to prescriptions but does not apply to prescriptions for controlled substances; 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1836, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1836, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair