Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1624 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt physicians from the requirement of obtaining preauthorization to prescribe medication for Medicaid patients with HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C and for Medicaid patients who have undergone organ transplants.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the American Liver Foundation-Hawaii Chapter; Hepatitis Hale Treatment and Support Program; Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment and Support Network of Hawaii; National Association of Hepatitis Task Forces; and two individuals. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that organ transplant patients and patients with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C require timely treatment to stabilize their conditions and to avoid permanent injury. Your Committee further finds that the process for obtaining preauthorization under the Medicaid program to prescribe medications for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C patients and immunosuppressives for organ transplant patients is difficult and time consuming for practitioners. This measure facilitates timely treatment by waiving the preauthorization requirement for physicians who prescribe medications and immunosuppressives for Medicaid beneficiaries suffering from HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, or who have undergone an organ transplant.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, stylistic amendments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1624, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1624, S.D. 1.