Senate committee backs study of mail-order pharmacy expansion, amid pharmacist concerns

The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee recommended passing SCR109 / SR102, a concurrent resolution urging the insurance commissioner to study potential benefits and impacts of expanding mail-order pharmacy services in Hawaii. The insurance division (DCCA) and HMSA said a state-led study could help determine whether expanded mail-order options would reduce costs for residents and whether such changes would be advantageous for rural communities; the committee adopted amendments asking state and county agencies to cooperate and directing an evaluation of impacts on community pharmacies.

Cory Sanders, executive director of the Hawaii Pharmacist Association, testified in opposition and pressed the committee on what the study would actually measure. Sanders asked, "Are they gonna be able to look at clinical outcomes?" and warned that community pharmacies could lose vaccine access and other in-person services if prescriptions shift heavily to mail order. Senators and the insurance division discussed amending the resolution to require cooperation from agencies with clinical expertise (for example, the Department of Health) so the study could access appropriate data. After incorporating language to evaluate community-pharmacy impacts and to solicit agency cooperation, members voted to pass the resolution with amendments.