STAND. COM. REP. NO.  855

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 10

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 10 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to make the Hawaii Rx Plus prescription drug program more effective by requiring, instead of allowing:

 

     (1)  A drug manufacturer or labeler that sells prescription drugs in the state to enter into a rebate agreement with the Department of Human Services (DHS); and

 

     (2)  DHS to provide information to health care providers about the relative cost of drugs produced by manufacturers that enter into rebate agreements compared to the cost of drugs produced by those that do not enter into rebate agreements.

 

     The Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, ILWU Local 142, AARP Hawaii, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society supported this bill.  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America  opposed this measure.  DHS submitted comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 10 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair