Hawaii Rx Plus - Diabetes Assistance Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii Rx Plus
Hawaii Rx Plus is a prescription drugs assistance program. This program represents the collaborative efforts of a bipartisan team that recognized the problems in the original law enacted in 2002 and have since worked cooperatively to address these problems. This program is designed to reduce the price of prescription drugs to qualified participants, keep administrative costs to a minimum, streamline the application process, prevent the crowding out of prescription drug benefits already available through the Hawaii Pre-Paid Health Care Act, and to protect the rights and benefits of the Medicaid population.

First, this program creates a nonexclusive list of drugs to be covered under the program. In addition to the existing Medicaid preferred drug list, the program allows the inclusion of various drugs used in the treatment of cancer and mental health illnesses. It also utilizes the Department of Human Services (DHS) Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee (P&T) to review and recommend drugs for placement on the preferred drug list.

Secondly, the program limits participation to residents of the State of Hawaii who have a family income equal to or less than 350 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), who lack prescription drug coverage, and who enroll in the Hawaii Rx Plus program.

Third, the amendments to this program ensure integrity in the program's administration by prohibiting the contractor administering the program from receiving compensation or other benefits from a participating drug provider.

Fourth, the program establishes an initial list of discount priced drugs that currently encompasses those drugs purchased pursuant to the Department of Human Services administered Medicaid program. The effective date for this list is July 1, 2004. A second tier of discount drugs would be July 1, 2005.

Finally, Hawaii Rx Plus can be implemented via a streamlined application process (PDF, Adobe Acrobat Reader Required). This will allow the enrollment of as many qualified residents as possible. A larger participant population will enable the State to negotiate higher discounts.

Department of Human Services
Hawaii Rx Plus Program
P.O. Box 700220
Kapolei, Hawaii 96709-0220
Med-QUEST Office (808) 692-7999 (Oahu) (808) 692-7989 (Oahu-FAX)
Med-QUEST Office 1-866-878-9769 (Toll-Free Neighbor Islands)
webmaster@hawaiirxplus.com