STAND. COM. REP. NO. 413

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 817

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 817 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE I-SAVERX PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to reduce the cost of prescription medications to participants of the Hawaii Rx Plus program.

 

     Specifically, this measure directs the Governor to establish Hawaii's participation in the I-SaveRx prescription drug program to provide residents with increased access to affordable prescription medication.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs and the Kokua Council.  The Department of Health submitted testimony supporting the intent of this measure with recommendations.  The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General submitted comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committees find that the I-SaveRx is a prescription reimportation program that allows consumers to refill brand-name prescription drugs at affordable prices from pharmacies in Canada and the United Kingdom.

 

     Your Committees amended this measure by changing the effective date to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 817, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 817, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing,

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair