Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3224, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow individuals who participate in all Hawaii Medicaid medical plans to have open access to mental health medications.

Specifically, this bill removes the requirement to consult with a psychiatrist for a recipient's access to psychotropic medication. Furthermore, this bill applies to all Hawaii Medicaid medical plans the:

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by making several technical amendments to clarify that the intent of the bill is to extend the benefits of access to psychotropic medication to all Hawaii Medicaid medical plans.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3224, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3224, S.D. 2.