HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 075 Draft 03 2002-2004 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
75 03
RESOLUTION NO.
(DRAFT 3)
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT "THE HEALTHY HAWAI'1 PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the financial well being of many individuals and families in Hawai' i continues to
be undermined by the high cost of prescription drugs. Act 75, Healthy Hawaii program, which passed
overwhelmingly with bipartisan support in both houses in ?002 by the Hawaii state legislature and
also signed into law, will alleviate the negative impact prescription drug prices are having on the
quality of life for as many as 170,000 of Hawai'i's people; and,
WHEREAS, the Healthy Hawaii program would utilize the Medicaid program to provide
discounts on prescription drugs to all } [awai'i residents whose incomes are at or below 300 percent of
the federal poverty level. 'T'his group of beneficiaries includes thousands of working families and
senior citizens throughout the state. Projections indicate Healthy Hawaii will benefit more than
150,000 Hawaii residents; and
WHEREAS, one obstacle that prevents the implementation of this much-needed program is the
approval of a Medicaid waiver, one was submitted to the ('enters for Medicare and Medicaid Services
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and it was initially denied in April of 2003; and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Hawaii program Medicaid waiver was submitted to the Honorable
Tommy U. Thompson, Secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, by the State
Department of Human Services; and.
WHEREAS, the Healthy Hawaii Act included an appropriation of $1.5 million to implement
the program. In addition to paying start-up costs, the appropriation should reassure those responsible
for its approval at the federal level that the State of Hawaii intends to invest its own funds in this
much-needed program and does not expect the federal government to he the sole funding source; and
WHEREAS, even in the event that Congress approves one of the proposed prescription drug
benefit plans under Medicare, it would not solve the entire prescription drug issue in Hawaii, since the
federal measures would only cover Medicare beneficiaries, who are all over 65 years old or disabled.
Unlike Healthy Hawaii, which helps everyone in need regardless of age. the federal legislation would
provide no relief for low-to-middle- income working families and for the elderly under the age of 65
who make up a large portion of those who would benefit from the Healthy Hawai' i program. 'T'hese
people must not only deal with the high cost of living in our state and the economic downturn that has
affected their household incomes, but there are also some residents who tace the threat of personal
bankruptcy if they are forced to pay the full price of the prescription medications they need. The
alternative is to neglect needed medication.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TIIE COUNCIL OF TfIE COUNTY OF
I~IAWAI'I that it asks Governor hinda Lingle, in the interest of the health and welfare of the people of
our state, to use the power of I~er office and her personal powers of persuasion to strongly encourage
the I-Ionorable Tommy G. Thompson, SLcretary of the U. S. Depa~ merit of I l~alth and I Iuman
Services, and the adm~inistratcr of the Ccntcrs for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider the
denial of I-Iawai' is application for the waiver and to grant Hawai' is application for a Medicaid waiver
to implement this importa~~t ~togram under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act.
BE IT FURTHER RFSOI,VED that it encourages Governor Linda Lingle to commit and
expend the $1.5 million in st~s~e I=t~nding needed to implement this program.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk is dixected to transmit copies of this
resolution to the Honorable I,ijada I..ingle, Governor of the State of I-Ia~~~ai'i, the I-Ionorable Daniel
Inouye, the Honorab'.==~. Da iel .~kaka, tl~e honorable Neil Abercrombie, the Ionorable Fd Case, and
the I-Ionor~.bl~ Tommy G. Thompson, Seot•otary of the U. S. Department of Ii~alth and human
Services.
DATED: Kona , I Iawai' i this 18~1~ day of J~n~, 2003.
INTRODUCED BY:
'
~
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HA~~s'AI' I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hayv i`i AYES NOES ABS Ex
H110, Hawa,`1 ARAKAKI X
CHUNG
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLC"PION was by ELARIONOFF X
The vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the HOLSCHUH
County of Hawaii on Jtane 18, 2003
. JACOBSON ~
X
LEITHEAD-TODD X
ATTEST: ~ _ REYNOLDS X
SAFARIK X
~;,~,1
TYLER X
1 `'Y
Reference: C- 2 4 3. 3 /HSEDC-4
COUNTY CLERK CI~AIRMAN & ,,~RF:`SIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. ~
( DRAF`T' 3 )