HSB 153 (LSB 2153YC (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON MILLER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the respiratory syncytial virus season and the coverage of prescription drugs that protect against the respiratory syncytial virus under the medical assistance program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS SEASON AND COVERAGE.
   1.  The department of human services shall establish and employ a definition for the respiratory syncytial virus season that is consistent with the definition established by the centers for disease control and prevention of the United States department of health and human services, which provides that the respiratory syncytial virus season onset is the first of two consecutive weeks during which the mean percentage of respiratory syncytial virus specimens is greater than or equal to ten percent, and the respiratory syncytial virus season offset is the last of two consecutive weeks during which the mean percentage of positive specimens is less than or equal to ten percent.
   2.  The department of human services shall use Iowa virology data collected by the Iowa department of public health and reported on the department of public health’s internet site to prospectively estimate the start of the respiratory syncytial virus season and follow the respiratory syncytial virus season to the end.
   3.  The department of human services shall provide coverage of prescription drugs that protect against respiratory syncytial virus by November 1 of each year or at least thirty days prior to the five-year median onset date of the respiratory syncytial virus season for premature infants or other pediatric patients determined to be at risk for respiratory syncytial virus disease who are eligible for or qualified to receive medical assistance coverage under chapter 249A.
   4.  The department of human services shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season and the coverage of prescription drugs that protect against RSV.
   The bill requires the department of human services (DHS) to establish and use a definition for the RSV season that is consistent with the definition established by the centers for disease control and prevention of the United States department of health and human services, which provides that the onset of the RSV season occurs the first of two consecutive weeks when the mean percentage of all RSV specimens is greater than or equal to 10 percent. The RSV season offset occurs the last of two consecutive weeks when the mean percentage of positive specimens is less than or equal to 10 percent.
   The bill also requires DHS to use virology data collected by the Iowa department of public health to estimate the start of the RSV season and follow the RSV season to the end.
   The bill requires DHS to provide coverage of prescription drugs that protect against RSV by November 1 of each year or provide coverage at least 30 days prior to the five-year median onset date of the RSV season to premature infants or pediatric patients determined to be at risk for RSV who are eligible for or qualified to receive coverage under Code chapter 249A.
   The bill instructs DHS to adopt rules to implement the requirements of the bill.