House File 2554 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE FILE 2554 1 2 1 3 AN ACT 1 4 RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSIST= 1 5 ANCE PROGRAM BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE, AND PROVIDING 1 6 FOR A CONTINGENT APPROPRIATION. 1 7 1 8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 1 9 1 10 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 505.25 PRESCRIPTION DRUG 1 11 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 1 12 1. The commissioner of insurance shall establish and 1 13 administer a prescription drug assistance program to improve 1 14 access to prescription drugs for individuals who have no or 1 15 inadequate health insurance or other resources for the 1 16 purchase of medically necessary prescription drugs and to 1 17 assist individuals in accessing programs offered by 1 18 pharmaceutical manufacturers that provide free or discounted 1 19 prescription drugs or provide coverage for prescription drugs. 1 20 2. The commissioner of insurance shall utilize computer 1 21 software programs to do all of the following: 1 22 a. Provide a clearinghouse to assist individuals in 1 23 accessing manufacturer=sponsored prescription drug assistance 1 24 programs for which they may be eligible, including listing the 1 25 eligibility requirements for pharmaceutical assistance 1 26 programs offered by manufacturers. 1 27 b. Disseminate information about and assist individuals in 1 28 assessing pharmaceutical discount or insurance programs that 1 29 may be beneficial. 1 30 c. Serve as a resource for pharmaceutical benefit issues. 1 31 d. Assist individuals in making application to and 1 32 enrolling in the pharmaceutical assistance program most 1 33 appropriate for the individual. 1 34 e. Maintain a listing of community=based pharmacy 1 35 assistance programs for additional assistance. 2 1 3. The commissioner of insurance shall provide information 2 2 to pharmacies, physicians, other appropriate health care 2 3 providers, and the general public regarding the program and 2 4 about manufacturer=sponsored prescription drug assistance 2 5 programs. 2 6 4. The commissioner of insurance shall notify 2 7 pharmaceutical manufacturers doing business in this state of 2 8 the prescription drug assistance program, and every 2 9 pharmaceutical manufacturer that does business in this state 2 10 that offers a pharmaceutical assistance program shall notify 2 11 the commissioner of the existence of the program, the 2 12 prescription drugs covered by the program, and all information 2 13 necessary for application for assistance through the program. 2 14 The commissioner of insurance shall provide for ongoing review 2 15 and assessment of pharmaceutical discount or insurance 2 16 programs. 2 17 5. The commissioner of insurance shall monitor and 2 18 evaluate the prescription drug assistance program including 2 19 but not limited to the number of individuals served, the 2 20 length and types of services provided, and any other 2 21 measurable data available to assess the effectiveness of the 2 22 program. The commissioner shall make recommendations for 2 23 improvement of the program and shall identify and make 2 24 recommendations regarding additional strategies to improve 2 25 access to prescription drugs for citizens who have no or 2 26 inadequate health insurance or other resources for the 2 27 purchase of prescription drugs. 2 28 6. The commissioner of insurance shall submit a report 2 29 regarding the effectiveness of the program and including any 2 30 recommendations for improvement of the program to the governor 2 31 and the general assembly on or before December 15, annually. 2 32 Sec. 2. PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM == FUNDING == 2 33 CONTINGENT APPROPRIATION. 2 34 1. The commissioner of insurance shall seek federal 2 35 funding to establish and administer the prescription drug 3 1 assistance program pursuant to section 505.25. 3 2 2. If federal funding is not received pursuant to 3 3 subsection 1 before October 1, 2004, as certified by the 3 4 commissioner of insurance, there is appropriated from the 3 5 senior living trust fund created in section 249H.4 to the 3 6 insurance division of the department of commerce beginning 3 7 October 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2005, the following 3 8 amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the 3 9 purpose designated: 3 10 For the establishment and administration of the 3 11 prescription drug assistance program pursuant to section 3 12 505.25: 3 13 .................................................. $ 250,000 3 14 3 15 3 16 3 17 CHRISTOPHER C. RANTS 3 18 Speaker of the House 3 19 3 20 3 21 3 22 JEFFREY M. LAMBERTI 3 23 President of the Senate 3 24 3 25 I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and 3 26 is known as House File 2554, Eightieth General Assembly. 3 27 3 28 3 29 3 30 MARGARET THOMSON 3 31 Chief Clerk of the House 3 32 Approved , 2004 3 33 3 34 3 35 4 1 THOMAS J. VILSACK 4 2 Governor