STAND. COM. REP. NO.300-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2653

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2653 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE FINANCING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish a prescription drug program administered by the Department of Health (DOH) and open to any senior citizen who is retired and 65 or older. This program will:

(1) Require initial enrollment periods and disallow re-enrollment for a fixed number of years after voluntary cancellation, or cancellation for premium non-payment;

(2) Provide an annual benefit maximum sufficient to meet most subscribers' needs; and

(4) Include a mail-order service and subscriber and provider education plans.

The bill also makes an appropriation to fund the program.

Your Committee receive testimony in support of this measure from the Retirees Unit of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Healthcare Association of Hawaii. The Department of Human Services, DOH, Executive Office on Aging, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Hawaii Medical Association provided testimony in support of the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that this bill would provide a State solution that addresses the failure of Congress to enact a Medicare prescription drug program. Your Committee finds that some form of insurance coverage is necessary to help seniors meet the rising cost of needed prescription drugs, protect their health, and preserve their quality of life.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2653 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair