Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1950 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to lower the cost of prescription drugs to qualified consumers by appropriating an unspecified amount of funds to the Department of Human Services (DHS) to pay $1 for each prescription written for a qualified individual; provided that:

Healthcare Association of Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Kokua Council, Laau Makana, The Medicine Bank, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants, and an individual submitted testimony in support of this bill. DHS, Department of Health, Executive Office on Aging, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Longs Drugs, and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1950 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.