Appropriates funds to the DOH for federally qualified health centers and the Medicine Bank to provide pharmacy services and supplies to low-income patients. (HB1058 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Access to prescription drugs is essential to the restoration and maintenance of health, and is as significant as access to regular medical care. For some individuals, access to medical care is of little value unless they also have access to the drugs prescribed to them.

Federally qualified health centers across Hawaii serve nearly fifty thousand residents annually who are below two hundred per cent of the poverty level and have no prescription drug coverage. This segment of Hawaii's population is disproportionately affected with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, asthma, and diabetes, which routinely require continuing medication and supplies. The Hawaii Rx plus program, the medicare drug benefit program, and other notable public efforts do not meet the needs of these residents because they cannot afford the patient co-payment that accompanies such programs.

Federally qualified health centers have very cost-effective means of procuring prescription drugs and supplies for these low-income patients through programs such as the federal drug pricing program, 340B program, and pharmaceutical manufacturer's patient assistance programs. A small public investment in such programs will yield a disproportionately significant increase in low-income patients' access to necessary prescription drugs and supplies.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to:

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 as follows:

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.