CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 91-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2012

RE:    S.B. No. 2797

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2797, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS IN MEDICAID,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to make permanent the provisions of Act 205, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010, that require an individual insured under QUEST, QUEST Expanded Access, or a fee-for-service program administered by the Department of Human Services to make two unsuccessful attempts at treatment with generic psychotropic medications before the Department of Human Services may cover a brand-name medication for a new prescription. 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that increasing numbers of people require treatment for mental health issues and that the cost of prescription psychotropic medications has increased substantially.  Your Committee on Conference also finds that the use or attempt to use comparatively effective generic medications allows for cost-saving measures while preserving access to necessary treatment. 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 29, 2012. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2797, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2797, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Co-Chair	____________________________ JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair
____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair	____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Co-Chair
____________________________ JO JORDAN, Co-Chair