Hawaii House Bill HR146

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.

Impact

The establishment of the Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group is aimed at analyzing the current reimbursement practices for pharmacies and the impact of these practices on health care access. The working group will study the necessity of reimbursement for services provided by pharmacists and evaluate how the lack of coverage affects patient treatment. This could potentially lead to an amendment of state laws regarding health fund reimbursements and expand the scope of services pharmacists can provide to patients, thus improving healthcare outcomes and reducing costs associated with hospital readmissions.

Summary

H.R. 146, introduced in the State of Hawaii's 2025 Legislative Session, seeks to address the critical issue of pharmacy reimbursements by requesting the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish a working group dedicated to exploring and proposing legislation for mandatory insurance coverage of pharmacy services. This initiative emerges in response to the growing recognition of the role pharmacists play in the health care system, especially in underserved areas, where they can provide crucial services that extend beyond traditional dispensing roles. It indicates a shift towards recognizing pharmacists as key components of the health care delivery system, particularly in rural parts of Hawaii.

Contention

While the bill is poised to enhance pharmacy services and patient access to care, it could also bring about contention regarding funding and the feasibility of requiring health insurers to expand coverage. Concerns may arise from insurance companies, health care stakeholders, and lawmakers about the budget implications of implementing such mandatory coverage and the potential impact on insurance premiums. Overall, H.R. 146 reflects a wider legislative trend aimed at integrating pharmacists more actively into the health care framework, but debates over practical implementation and financial ramifications are expected.