Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 41 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request pharmaceutical companies to develop a consumer friendly system for free prescription drugs.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Hawaii Pharmacists Association, Hawaii State Primary Care Association, and a private citizen.

Your Committee finds that medication assistance programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies provide prescribed medications free or at a reduced price for those who qualify. However, since the application, qualifying criteria, and processes differ among various companies, doctors, physicians and pharmacists, many do not utilize these programs because of the time that is required to initiate and complete the process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by urging the development of the system for free prescription drugs instead of making it mandatory.

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