RELATING TO THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE CONCERNING DRUG PRODUCT SELECTION RELATIVE TO ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  EPILEPSY TREATMENT AND EDUCATION TASK FORCE.
   1.
  a.  Within sixty days of the effective date of this Act, a task force consisting of patients, physicians, and pharmacists shall be formed to provide education and 

information and to assess the impact on people with epilepsy of generically equivalent drug product selection of antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of epileptic seizures. The department of public health shall provide administrative support to the task force.
   b.  The membership of the task force shall consist of the following members, appointed by the specified organization:
   (1)  Three patients or patient representatives appointed by the epilepsy foundation of Iowa.
   (2)  Three physicians appointed by the Iowa medical society and the Iowa osteopathic medical association.
   (3)  Three pharmacists appointed by the Iowa pharmacy association in collaboration with the Iowa retail federation.
   2.
  a.  A subcommittee of the task force, equally representative of patients, physicians, and pharmacists, shall work with the epilepsy foundation of Iowa and other appropriate entities to develop education and information materials on epilepsy treatment and medication selection.
   b.  The materials shall be developed and distributed in a manner that informs the perspectives of patients, physicians, pharmacists, and insurers.
   3.  The department of public health, in consultation with the epilepsy foundation of Iowa, shall administer any funds appropriated or received for the purposes of the task force. The funds shall be distributed through a grant to the epilepsy foundation of Iowa for the development and distribution of education and information materials as specified in this section. 
   4.  It is the intent of the general assembly that the only changes made in the law regarding drug product selection of antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of epileptic seizures for the duration of the task force shall be those necessary to comply with changes by the United States food and drug administration regarding interchangeability standards for the use of substitution for such drugs.
   5.  The task force shall submit a report of its activities, findings, and any recommendations to the general assembly by January 1, 2013. The task force shall be dissolved on that date.

   Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.

______________________________
KRAIG PAULSEN
Speaker of the House

______________________________
JOHN P. KIBBIE
President of the Senate

   I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 322, Eighty-fourth General Assembly.

______________________________
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved _______________, 2011

______________________________
TERRY E. BRANSTAD
Governor