Senate Amendment 5287
PAG LIN
1 1 Amend Senate File 2229 as follows:
1 2 #1. By striking everything after the enacting
1 3 clause and inserting the following:
1 4 <Section 1. NEW SECTION. 505.25 PRESCRIPTION
1 5 DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
1 6 1. The commissioner of insurance shall establish
1 7 and administer a prescription drug assistance program
1 8 to improve access to prescription drugs for
1 9 individuals who have no or inadequate health insurance
1 10 or other resources for the purchase of medically
1 11 necessary prescription drugs and to assist individuals
1 12 in accessing programs offered by pharmaceutical
1 13 manufacturers that provide free or discounted
1 14 prescription drugs or provide coverage for
1 15 prescription drugs.
1 16 2. The commissioner of insurance shall utilize
1 17 computer software programs to do all of the following:
1 18 a. Provide a clearinghouse to assist individuals
1 19 in accessing manufacturer=sponsored prescription drug
1 20 assistance programs for which they may be eligible,
1 21 including listing the eligibility requirements for
1 22 pharmaceutical assistance programs offered by
1 23 manufacturers.
1 24 b. Disseminate information about and assist
1 25 individuals in assessing pharmaceutical discount or
1 26 insurance programs that may be beneficial.
1 27 c. Serve as a resource for pharmaceutical benefit
1 28 issues.
1 29 d. Assist individuals in making application to and
1 30 enrolling in the pharmaceutical assistance program
1 31 most appropriate for the individual.
1 32 e. Maintain a listing of community=based pharmacy
1 33 assistance programs for additional assistance.
1 34 3. The commissioner of insurance shall provide
1 35 information to pharmacies, physicians, other
1 36 appropriate health care providers, and the general
1 37 public regarding the program and about manufacturer=
1 38 sponsored prescription drug assistance programs.
1 39 4. The commissioner of insurance shall notify
1 40 pharmaceutical manufacturers doing business in this
1 41 state of the prescription drug assistance program, and
1 42 every pharmaceutical manufacturer that does business
1 43 in this state that offers a pharmaceutical assistance
1 44 program shall notify the commissioner of the existence
1 45 of the program, the prescription drugs covered by the
1 46 program, and all information necessary for application
1 47 for assistance through the program. The commissioner
1 48 of insurance shall provide for ongoing review and
1 49 assessment of pharmaceutical discount or insurance
1 50 programs.
2 1 5. The commissioner of insurance shall monitor and
2 2 evaluate the prescription drug assistance program
2 3 including but not limited to the number of individuals
2 4 served, the length and types of services provided, and
2 5 any other measurable data available to assess the
2 6 effectiveness of the program. The commissioner shall
2 7 make recommendations for improvement of the program
2 8 and shall identify and make recommendations regarding
2 9 additional strategies to improve access to
2 10 prescription drugs for citizens who have no or
2 11 inadequate health insurance or other resources for the
2 12 purchase of prescription drugs.
2 13 6. The commissioner of insurance shall submit a
2 14 report regarding the effectiveness of the program and
2 15 including any recommendations for improvement of the
2 16 program to the governor and the general assembly on or
2 17 before December 15, annually.
2 18 Sec. 2. PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ==
2 19 FUNDING == CONTINGENT APPROPRIATION.
2 20 1. The commissioner of insurance shall seek
2 21 federal funding to establish and administer the
2 22 prescription drug assistance program pursuant to
2 23 section 505.25.
2 24 2. If federal funding is not received pursuant to
2 25 subsection 1 before October 1, 2004, as certified by
2 26 the commissioner of insurance, there is appropriated
2 27 from the senior living trust fund created in section
2 28 249H.4 to the insurance division of the department of
2 29 commerce beginning October 1, 2004, and ending June
2 30 30, 2005, the following amount, or so much thereof as
2 31 is necessary, to be used for the purpose designated:
2 32 For the establishment and administration of the
2 33 prescription drug assistance program pursuant to
2 34 section 505.25:
2 35 .................................................. $ 250,000>
2 36
2 37
2 38
2 39 NEAL SCHUERER
2 40 SF 2229.201 80
2 41 pf/sh
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