STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1236

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 651

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 651, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the Uniform Controlled Substances Act in chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding definitions consistent with federal law, clarifying the conditions for electronic transmittal of prescriptions, and clarifying violations of prohibited acts.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Times Supermarket, CVS Caremark, Walgreen Co., and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure aligns Hawaii's Uniform Controlled Substances Act with federal regulations by allowing prescribers who are registered and authorized to prescribe controlled substances to electronically prescribe and electronically convey prescriptions for controlled substances listed in schedules II, III, IV, and V to a pharmacy of the patient's choice.  The electronic conveyance of prescriptions from prescribers to pharmacists provides a safer, more secure, and timely means to prescribe controlled substances in addition to the traditional method of providing the patient with a handwritten prescription.

 

     Your Committee further finds that this measure eliminates or greatly reduces forgeries, lost prescription documents, and illegible handwriting, which contribute to medication errors, wasted time, and increased frustration for patients who need these medicines.

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 651, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair