Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1317, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries continue to receive a broad range of medical coverage by prohibiting the Department of Human Services (DHS) from taking any action or expending state resources to remove prescription drug benefits from managed care plans that provide health care coverage for Hawaii Medicaid beneficiaries.

The Hawaii Association of Health Plans, AlohaCare, Kaiser Permanente, and a concerned individual supported this bill. DHS and Department of Health opposed 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. 1317, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.