STAND. COM. REP. NO. 627

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 693

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 693 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish a state pharmacy assistance program to assist eligible elderly and disabled individuals in defraying the cost of prescriptions under the new federal Medicare part D drug benefit program.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) supported this measure. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America opposed this bill.

Your Committees note that financial information was requested from DHS regarding the newly established program proposed in this measure.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to promote further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 693, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 693, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair