Bill > HB1648

This bill, relating to workers' compensation, aims to address rising insurance costs by prohibiting health care providers from dispensing certain types of medications to workers' compensation patients. Specifically, it will prevent providers from giving out nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs, which are medications that do not require a doctor's prescription and are generally available to the public. The bill also clarifies that this prohibition extends to any drugs not formally reviewed by the FDA, the United States Food and Drug Administration, for safety and effectiveness. The intent behind this measure is to prevent inflated pricing for these drugs within the workers' compensation system, as the legislature has found that the lack of clear reimbursement rates has led to such overcharging. This change will take effect on July 1, 3000.

Business and Industry, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1648&year=2026