STAND. COM. REP. NO.  123-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1631

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1631 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION PRESCRIPTION DRUG REIMBURSEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to bring Hawaii closer to the rest of the nation in its dispensing policies and reimbursement rates for prescription drugs in the workers' compensation system by:

 

     (1)  Limiting physician-dispensed prescription drugs in workers' compensation claims to the first thirty days from the work injury date; and

 

     (2)  Lowering the reimbursement rates of prescription drugs in workers' compensation claims.

 

     The City and County of Honolulu; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company, Ltd.; Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.; Hawaii Insurers Council; and National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies supported this measure.  Automated HealthCare Solutions and an individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Human Resources Development offered comments. 

 

     Should the Committee on Finance consider this measure, your Committee respectfully notes that the original limitation on the number of days for physician-dispensed prescription drugs in workers' compensation claims was the first thirty days from the work injury date.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the number of days for physician-dispensed prescription drugs in workers' compensation claims to an unspecified amount of days, rather than the first thirty days, from the work injury date; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1631, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1631, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair