STAND. COM. REP. NO.  184

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 655

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 655 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REMOTE DISPENSING PHARMACIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure access to the prescription medications people in remote locations need by:

 

(1)  Permitting remote dispensing pharmacies (RDP) to be established on islands where there are no pharmacies established; and

 

(2)  Authorizing the use of the RDPs to obtain medications regardless of the type of medical insurance possessed.

 

     The Department of Human Services, Board of Pharmacy, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Providing that upon the establishment of a pharmacy on an island with a RDP, the RDP will no longer be permitted to dispense controlled substances;

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 655, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 655, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair