STAND. COM. REP. NO.  365

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1044

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1044 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow QUEST patients equal access to immunosuppressants by deleting a provision that excluded QUEST medical plans.

     The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Life Foundation, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed this measure.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring an economic impact assessment on the effects of this measure in the 2010, 2011, and 2012 regular sessions;

     (2)  Repealing this measure on July 1, 2013; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1044, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1044, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health,

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair