STAND. COM. REP. NO.  10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 10

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. 10 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the Rx Plus Program by requiring:

     (1)  Rebate agreements between drug manufacturers and the Department of Human Services (DHS); and

     (2)  DHS to provide health care providers a comparison of drug prices between manufacturers that enter into rebate agreements and those that do not enter into rebate agreements.

     The Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Kokua Council, ILWU Local 142, Faith Action for Community Equity, and AARP Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  DHS supported the intent of this measure.  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America opposed this bill.

     Your Committees respectfully request the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce and the Committee on Finance to consider amending this measure to require DHS to provide information about the percentage of savings resulting from rebate agreements with drug manufacturers.

     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. 10 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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