THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

110

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

establishING aN INTERIM WORKING GROUP to disseminate information regarding prescription drug card discount programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

 

WHEREAS, prescription drugs are an increasingly significant component in modern health care as new medications improve health outcomes and quality of life, replace surgery and other invasive treatments, quicken recovery for patients who receive these treatments, and prevent serious and costly hospitalization; and

WHEREAS, prescription drug prices are rising twice as fast as inflation, with annual percentage increases in prescription expenditures surpassing most other aspects of personal health care expenditures in the past decade; and

WHEREAS, one in three Medicare recipients do not have drug coverage; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's elderly population has been growing and is expected to increase dramatically in the near future with the first baby boomers turning 65 years old in 2011; and

WHEREAS, senior citizens consume one-third of all prescription drugs, averaging ten prescriptions prescribed per year versus three per year for those under 65, and often live on fixed incomes, yet have minimal drug coverage; and

WHEREAS, an April 2000, study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that fewer employers offer health benefits to future retirees, making declines in drug coverage more likely; and

WHEREAS, many pharmaceutical companies offer prescription drug discounts using drug cards to be presented in order to obtain the discount; and

WHEREAS, most drug card discount programs are not widely publicized, and persons without prescription drug insurance coverage are often unaware that such programs exist. In May, 2002, a statewide prescription drug card presentation will be conducted to elaborate on the benefits of drug card programs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services is requested to establish an interim working group to disseminate information to eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities regarding prescription drug card discount programs offered by private pharmaceutical companies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services;

(2) The Director of Health, or a designated representative;

(3) The Director of Human Services, or a designated representative;

(4) A representative from each County Office on Aging;

(5) A representative from every pharmaceutical company offering a prescription drug card discount program in Hawaii that could be utilized by eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities;

(6) A member of the public who represents the interests of senior citizens; and

(7) A member of the public who represents the interests of persons with disabilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services submit a report of its activities to the Senate no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, Director of Health, the Director of Human Services, each County Office on Aging, and Hawaii representatives of Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKlein, Novartis, and Pfizer pharmaceutical companies.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Requests the committee on health and human services to work with state and county agencies and pharmaceutical companies to disseminate information on prescription drug card programs.