Requesting The Director Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.
Summary
SCR70 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution that asks the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to create and convene a Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group. The group would study whether health insurers in Hawaii should be required to cover and reimburse pharmacists and pharmacies for health care services provided within a pharmacist’s scope of practice, and it would develop proposed legislation for the 2026 session. The resolution frames this effort as a response to Hawaii’s health care provider shortages, especially in rural areas and on the neighbor islands, and emphasizes the role pharmacies can play in expanding access to care.
The working group is directed to meet regularly, examine reimbursement practices, assess the effects of non-reimbursement on patient access and provider hardship, compare Hawaii’s approach with other jurisdictions, and draft legislation requiring coverage and fair payment for pharmacist-provided services. The resolution also specifies membership for the group, including the Insurance Commissioner or designee, the Board of Pharmacy, retail pharmacy representatives, an independent pharmacists’ association representative, and health insurance industry representatives, and requires a report to the Legislature before the 2026 session.
Impact
SCR70 does not itself change Hawaii law, but it initiates a policy study that could lead to future legislation affecting chapter 461, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and health insurance coverage requirements. If the working group’s recommendations are adopted later, the result could be mandatory reimbursement for pharmacist-delivered clinical services, affecting insurers, pharmacies, pharmacists, and patients by expanding covered services and potentially increasing access to preventive and chronic care services.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the resolution. The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee passed the measure with amendments on a 5-0 vote, indicating broad support for studying pharmacy reimbursement and related coverage issues. The bill’s findings also reflect a policy consensus that pharmacists can help address access-to-care gaps and reduce overall health care costs.
Contention
The main policy issue underlying SCR70 is whether health plans should be required to reimburse pharmacists and pharmacies for clinical services beyond dispensing medication. Supporters emphasize improved access, especially in underserved areas, and the value of pharmacists in preventive and chronic care. Potential points of contention include the cost impact on insurers, the scope of services that should be covered, whether mandatory reimbursement could increase premiums or administrative burden, and how to define fair payment for services within a pharmacist’s scope of practice. The resolution itself is a study directive, so these disputes are deferred to the working group and any future bill.
Same As
Requesting The Director Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.
Same As
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.
Requesting The Director Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.
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.