STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1195

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1209

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1209, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to define and implement strategies to reduce the cost of prescription drugs by:

(1) Establishing a Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council (Council) to consider and advise the Legislature on strategies to increase access to prescription drugs for Hawaii residents; and

(2) Appropriating funds to:

(A) Subsidize the costs of Federally Qualified Health Centers in purchasing pharmaceuticals through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, and procuring free prescription drugs through pharmaceutical manufacturer's patient assistance programs, for their low-income patients; and

(B) Support the Medicine Bank in collecting and distributing free pharmaceutical samples.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association and AARP Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Department of Human Services and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America opposed the bill. The Department of Human Resources Development and Hawaii Medical Service Association commented.

Your Committee finds that solutions must be developed and implemented to provide affordable access to prescription drugs. The Council created by this bill will perform a comprehensive examination and analysis of potential solutions, advise on strategies, and determine whether proposed drug benefit programs might jeopardize any other related programs. The recommendations of the Council will serve as the basis for future legislation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to continue productive dialogue on this issue. Technical, non-substantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1209, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1209, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

____________________________

KENNETH HIRAKI, Chair