Report Title:

Prescription Drugs; High Cost

WHEREAS, medically necessary prescription drugs are unaffordable for many Americans, especially seniors, disabled, and uninsured; and

WHEREAS, prescription drugs are a major factor in escalating health care cost inflation trends for private and public health insurance plans and state Medicaid programs; and

WHEREAS, the United States virtually stands alone among the major economies of the world in recognizing and protecting the legitimate patent rights of companies that discover new prescription drugs, but does not place any reciprocal obligation on such companies to provide reasonable and affordable access to those patented drugs; and

WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has enacted legislation protecting its financial interests with respect to prescription drug costs, such as through the Medicaid rebate program and through the Federal Supply Schedule for the veterans' health benefit plan; and

WHEREAS, the Congress has refused to grant similar powers to the states to allow them to protect their interests, and the health and welfare interests of their citizens; and

WHEREAS, while the states are aggressively pursuing promising strategies to lower prescription drug costs, the federal government can address the problem of high prescription drug costs more easily than the states because of the multi-state and international nature of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex marketplace for prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, the problem of high prescription drug costs is a national problem calling for leadership at the national level; and

WHEREAS, the Vermont State Legislature has requested each state legislature to adopt joint resolutions calling for federal leadership in addressing the problem of high prescription drug costs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, that the President and Congress of the United States of America are called upon to lead the nation and immediately address the problem of high prescription drug costs for all Americans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Hawaii Congressional Delegation, the President of the Vermont State Senate, and the Speaker of the Vermont State House of Representatives.