STAND. COM. REP. NO.  501-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2415

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2415 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAID,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the efficiency of the Medicaid system by requiring:

     (1)  Certain Medicaid recipients to pay a copayment for prescription drugs covered under the recipients' Medicaid benefits in accordance with a system developed by the Department of Human Services; and

     (2)  The Department of Human Services to seek the approval of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services prior to the establishment and implementation of such a system.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services testified in support of the intent of this measure but with reservations.  Two concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that copayments shall not be required for prescription drugs obtained for:

(A)  Recipients under 21 years of age;

(B)  Terminally ill recipients certified at hospice level of care; and

(C)  Recipients residing in nursing facilities or in home- or community-based settings that provide a certified intermediate care facility or skilled nursing facility level of care; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2415, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2415, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair