Hawai'i, Maine compare notes on low-cost drug programs

Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Maine — Lawmakers from Hawai'i and Maine yesterday said that they hope to serve as models for the states in between as they traded information on their pioneering laws to make low-cost prescription drugs available to more people.

State Sen. Ron Menor and Rep. Roy Takumi are spending three days in Augusta to learn more about Maine's first-in-the-nation law to use the state's buying power to make drugs available to 275,000 people without prescription drug coverage.

Yesterday, Maine Gov. John Baldacci assured the Hawai'i delegation that Maine's revised Rx-Plus law has been thoroughly analyzed for legal soundness.

Takumi, D-36th (Pearl City, Palisades), said he hopes that the states at the nation's eastern and western extremities would set the pace for the rest of the country and ultimately "squeeze" Congress into action.

"If we wait for Washington (to act), the citizens of our states would be waiting for a long time," added Maine state Sen. Michael Brennan.

"If we now start working our way toward the middle, we'll capture the hearts and minds of the people," said the Portland Democrat.

Takumi and Menor helped to write a law that will cover 170,000 Hawai'i residents after it takes effect next July. The two lawmakers said the main roadblock to their state's law is a lack of money.

Maine's groundbreaking law withstood a challenge in federal court by a pharmaceutical drug manufacturers group after the law was enacted in 2000. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court said drug makers did not adequately show why the Maine Rx plan should be blocked.

Since then, the Maine Legislature has revised the program and renamed it Maine Rx-Plus. The law authorizes the state to seek discounts by entering into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers.

Menor said the meetings shed light on ways Hawai'i can avoid some of the legal tangles Maine encountered in implementing its law.

"We're most grateful for Maine's leadership on prescription drugs," said Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o).

After 18 hours traveling to Maine, the Hawai'i lawmakers were to attend meetings with Gov. Baldacci and legislators from both parties who were closely involved with the Rx-Plus bill's passage.

AARP, which arranged the fact-finding trip, also was involved.

Maine AARP Director Jud Dolphin praised Maine for its leadership on prescription drugs.