Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1052 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase access to prescription drugs for Hawaii residents by establishing a Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council to consider strategies to manage the increasing costs of prescription drugs.

The American Association of Retired Persons supported this bill. The Department of Human Resources Development and Hawaii Medical Service Association supported the bill's intent. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America opposed this bill.

Your Committee finds that the rising cost of prescription drugs is a significant hardship for individuals with limited budgets, who are uninsured, or lack prescription drug coverage.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1052 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.