STAND. COM. REP. NO.  841

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 65

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 65, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow, among other things, prescription drug benefits plan beneficiaries to opt out of a requirement to purchase prescription drugs from a mail-order pharmacy.

Walgreens Co., the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Community Pharmacists Association, Hoola Lahui Hawaii, Molokai Drugs, and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, CVS Caremark Corporation, Express Scripts, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  One concerned individual provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion.

     Your Committee notes that it is concerned that this measure has not been referred to your Committee on Finance as this measure may have fiscal implications.

     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 H.B. No. 65, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 65, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair