STAND. COM. REP. NO. 382-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2456

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2456 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to remove the coverage exclusion for glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for weight loss purposes, thereby allowing Medicaid and Medicare part D coverage for certain glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs to treat obesity.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency; American Diabetes Association; Lou's Quality Home Health Services, LLC; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that insurance coverage for glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs prescribed for obesity remains relatively limited in Hawaii. Your Committees further find that under federal law, states have the option to cover weight loss medications for obesity under their Medicaid programs. Evidence-based treatments, such as GLP-1 weight loss medications, and lifestyle changes can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and other debilitating and costly health complications.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Removing references to Medicare Part D since it is entirely administered under a federal program;

(2) Inserting language conditioning prescription access for weight loss drugs on participation in lifestyle change programs that support long-term weight loss maintenance; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2456, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2456, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and Health,

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair