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