STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1212-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2106

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2106, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make outpatient prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to the residents of Hawaii by requiring health insurers to provide outpatient prescription drug coverage.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii COPD Coalition supported this bill.  Benefit Plan Solutions, Inc., opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring health insurers to provide outpatient prescription drug coverage, unless the policyholder can provide evidence of prescription drug coverage through another policy or self-insured program; 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2106, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2106, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair