STAND. COM. REP. NO. 594-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 3144

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 3144, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE PHARMACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expand the coverage of the State Pharmacy Assistance Program (Program) to persons with household incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).

Testimony in support of this measure was provided by the Department of Human Services (DHS). AARP Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure with amendments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Extending Program eligibility to persons with household incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal FPL;

(2) Repealing provisions relating to prescription drug rebate agreements under the Program;

(3) Removing the asset test for Program eligibility;

(4) Requiring Program applicants to apply for the federal Medicare part D pharmacy benefit program;

(5) Requiring the DHS to provide Program applicants with information about the Medicare prescription drug plan that best meets their needs at the lowest cost and help them enroll in the appropriate plan;

(6) Mandating that for Program enrollees with income at or below 150 percent of the FPL, the Program will pay up to 125 percent of the average premium for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, and all enrollee costs, including deductibles, copayments, and the cost of medications excluded from or denied coverage under the Medicare plan; and

(7) Requiring that for Program enrollees with income between 150 and 200 percent of the FPL, the Program will pay a portion of the payment of Medicare part D.

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 H.B. No. 3144, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3144, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair