Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 41 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that pharmaceutical companies doing business in Hawaii develop a unified system to assist the needy who qualify for free prescription drugs.

The Hawaii Pharmacists Association (HPA) testified in support of the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that pharmaceutical costs represent a large portion of health care costs in Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that there are programs to assist the needy in obtaining prescription drugs free or at reduced prices. This system is sometimes fragmented. A more unified type of system is required to provide low- or no-cost drugs to the needy.

Your Committee, with recommendations by HPA, has amended this concurrent resolution by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 41, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 41, H.D. 1.