STAND. COM. REP. NO. 809

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1209

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1209, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the rising cost of prescription drugs by establishing a pharmaceutical cost management council.

The council, among other things, will analyze various approaches to manage prescription drug costs and increase access to affordable drugs for all state residents.

Your Committee finds that requiring the pharmaceutical cost management council to include representatives of all stakeholders who are concerned with, each from their own different perspectives, the affordability of necessary prescription drugs will produce the collaboration necessary to produce effective and creative solutions to the problem. For our most vulnerable populations, seniors and the disabled living on fixed incomes and frequently uninsured, obtaining necessary medications has become increasingly difficult over the last several years as drug costs continue to increase. The council created by this bill will analyze potential solutions, advise on these strategies, including the execution of prescription drug purchasing agreements, conduct research, and determine whether proposed drug benefit programs might jeopardize any other programs. Your Committee believes that this measure has the potential to address the rising cost of prescription drugs and provide assistance in increasing access to affordable drugs. Prescription drugs do not benefit those individuals who cannot afford to buy them.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1209, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1209, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair