Senate File 257 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY KAPUCIAN Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to prescription drug coverage for health care 2 facility residents eligible for federal veterans affairs 3 benefits. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1474XS 83 6 pf/nh/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 135C.31A, Code 2009, is amended to read 1 2 as follows: 1 3 135C.31A ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTS == PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY == 1 4 PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE. 1 5 1. A health care facilityreceiving reimbursement through 1 6 the medical assistance program under chapter 249Ashall assist 1 7 the Iowa department of veterans affairs in identifying, upon 1 8 admission of a resident, the resident's eligibility for 1 9 benefits through the United States department of veterans 1 10 affairs. The department of inspections and appeals, in 1 11 cooperation with the department of human services, shall adopt 1 12 rules to administer this section, including a provision that 1 13 ensures that if a resident is eligible for benefits through 1 14 the United States department of veterans affairs or other 1 15 third=party payor, the payor of last resort for reimbursement 1 16 to the health care facility is the medical assistance program. 1 17 The rules shall also require the health care facility to 1 18 request information from a resident or resident's personal 1 19 representative regarding the resident's veteran status and to 1 20 report to the Iowa department of veterans affairs only the 1 21 names of residents identified as potential veterans along with 1 22 the names of their spouses and any dependents. Information 1 23 reported by the health care facility shall be verified by the 1 24 Iowa department of veterans affairs. This section shall not 1 25 apply to the admission of an individual to a state mental 1 26 health institute for acute psychiatric care or to the 1 27 admission of an individual to the Iowa veterans home. 1 28 2. a. If a resident is identified, upon admission to a 1 29 health care facility, as eligible for benefits through the 1 30 United States department of veterans affairs pursuant to 1 31 subsection 1 or through other means, the health care facility 1 32 shall allow the resident to access any prescription drug 1 33 benefit included in such benefits for which the resident is 1 34 also eligible. The health care facility shall also assist the 1 35 Iowa department of veterans affairs in identifying individuals 2 1 residing in such health care facilities on July 1, 2009, who 2 2 are eligible for the prescription drug benefit. 2 3 b. The department of inspections and appeals, the 2 4 department of veterans affairs, and the department of human 2 5 services shall identify any barriers to residents in accessing 2 6 such prescription drug benefits and shall assist health care 2 7 facilities in adjusting their procedures for medication 2 8 administration to comply with this subsection. 2 9 EXPLANATION 2 10 This bill directs health care facilities, with the 2 11 exceptions of a state mental health institute for acute 2 12 psychiatric care and the Iowa veterans home, to allow a 2 13 resident identified as eligible for benefits through the 2 14 United States department of veterans affairs (VA), upon 2 15 admission to the health care facility or by other means, 2 16 access to the prescription drug benefit included in such 2 17 benefits for which the resident is also eligible. This 2 18 requirement also applies to individuals already residing in a 2 19 health care facility on July 1, 2009. The bill directs the 2 20 departments of inspections and appeals, veterans affairs, and 2 21 human services to identify any barriers to residents in 2 22 accessing the prescription drug benefit and to assist health 2 23 care facilities in adjusting their procedures for medication 2 24 administration to comply with the requirements of the bill. 2 25 Prescription drugs provided through the VA are generally 2 26 provided in prescription bottles, while health care facilities 2 27 generally dispense prescription drugs from blister packs in 2 28 order to ensure safe medication distribution. Because of the 2 29 conflict between these established procedures, health care 2 30 residents who are eligible for prescription drug benefits 2 31 through the VA may be precluded from accessing these benefits. 2 32 LSB 1474XS 83 2 33 pf/nh/5