Gathering Place
By Ron Menor
Hawaii Rx will provide
residents with the best
possible drug reformAn important development has occurred since the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Maine Rx program and the Star-Bulletin's recent statements supporting immediate implementation of our Hawaii Rx program. Like its Maine counterpart, Hawaii Rx is aimed at using bulk purchasing to get cheaper prescription drugs for residents not covered by drug plans or who have limited drug plans.
During a recent conference call in which I participated with officials from Maine, whose prescription drug relief programs served as a model for Hawaii law, I was informed that Maine is moving full speed ahead with the implementation of their own program -- Maine Rx. Officials from Maine's Department of Human Services and Attorney General's Office who are overseeing the implementation of the Maine program strongly encouraged Hawaii to proceed with its program.
The representatives of the Maine Attorney General's Office emphasized that not only did the U.S. Supreme Court give Maine and Hawaii a green light to move forward with prescription drug reform, the opinions of the justices also provided direction about modifications that should be made to our states' existing laws to strengthen them against possible challenges from the big drug companies. My own reading of the Supreme Court decision convinces me that we now have a solid basis to begin proceeding with Hawaii Rx.
Maine officials also informed me that Maine Gov. John Baldacci recently submitted a new initiative, Maine Rx Plus, to his state's legislature. This measure adds income limits for participants in the program to address issues noted in the U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Equally important, Governor Baldacci's proposal adds substantial cost savings to the original Maine Rx law and includes provisions allowing more residents to purchase certain drugs at substantially discounted Medicaid prices. It is projected that Maine Rx will save consumers about 15 to 60 percent off retail prices.
Given the relief that Hawaii Rx would provide to thousands of residents struggling to pay for the medications they need, state officials must affirm their commitment to this program and take advantage of the positive developments occurring in Maine. Governor Lingle and our Legislature should work during the interim to draft legislation to implement a "Hawaii Rx Plus" program by amending our program to incorporate changes similar to those in the Maine Rx Plus bill.
The proposed changes to Hawaii law should be ready in time for Hawaii's 2004 legislative session. In addition, Hawaii officials should begin ongoing consultation with their counterparts in Maine who are working on prescription drug reform. Hawaii should benefit from the lessons learned in Maine.
Hawaii's consumers deserve a strong commitment from those they elected to implement the kind of meaningful and effective solution provided by Hawaii Rx. We cannot afford to waste time on more discussion of alternatives that have been thoroughly studied, analyzed and discarded.
Sen. Ron Menor is chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.