File No. 112

House of Representatives, March 30, 2005

The Committee on General Law reported through REP. STONE, C. of the 9th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING INFORMATION RELATING TO PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND DISCOUNT DRUG CARDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) As used in this section and section 2 of this act:

(1) "Eligible person" means any person who is a resident of Connecticut at the time such person files an application for prescription medications or nonprescription medications with a participating manufacturer;

(2) "Department" means The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy;

(3) "Participating manufacturer" means a pharmaceutical manufacturer that offers prescription medications or nonprescription medications at a reduced cost or at no cost to persons pursuant to a voluntary drug assistance program established by such manufacturer;

(4) "Prescription medications" means prescription drugs that have been approved as safe and effective by the federal Food and Drug Administration or that are otherwise legally marketed and manufactured in the United States and manufactured and offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a Pharmacy Outreach Program, within The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, for the purpose of assisting residents of this state in obtaining reduced cost or no cost prescription medications or nonprescription medications from participating manufacturers and educating such residents about health care issues relating to such medications. The department shall administer such program and may enter into an agreement with a vendor for assistance with the administration of such program.

(b) The Pharmacy Outreach Program shall assist eligible persons in procuring free or low cost prescription medications or nonprescription medications by: (1) Evaluating the likelihood that such eligible person will qualify to receive reduced cost or no cost prescription medications or nonprescription medications from a participating manufacturer based upon such participating manufacturer's eligibility requirements for participation in such manufacturer's voluntary drug assistance program; (2) aiding eligible persons in the preparation of applications for prescription medications or nonprescription medications that will be submitted to such participating manufacturers; and (3) assisting any physician licensed in this state with communications to any such participating manufacturer that concern the application of any such eligible person for participation in such participating manufacturer's voluntary drug assistance program.

(c) The Pharmacy Outreach Program shall include a medication education and intervention resource center that shall: (1) Create and maintain a state-wide toll free telephone number staffed by individuals who are qualified to counsel and advise eligible persons on questions such persons may have about prescription drugs or nonprescription drugs; (2) sponsor and organize presentations, workshops and screenings, in conjunction with other organizations, concerning issues relating to mental and physical health and issues relating to the elderly; (3) offer and provide information on prescription medications and nonprescription medications, including, but not limited to, information on drug interactions and drug abuse; and (4) offer in-person counseling to eligible persons for the purpose of explaining proper medication use and discouraging medication misuse.

The following fiscal impact statement and bill analysis are prepared for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, solely for the purpose of information, summarization, and explanation, and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose:

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The establishment of a Pharmacy Outreach Program at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy is estimated to cost in excess of $750,000 per year to operate. These costs are associated with the establishment of a toll-free number for counseling residents on concerns over prescription and non-prescription drugs and other requirements of the bill. This cost estimate is based on a similar program currently operating in Massachusetts. No funds have been recommended in the governor’s budget for the next biennium for this purpose.



OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6854

AN ACT CONCERNING INFORMATION RELATING TO PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND DISCOUNT DRUG CARDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES

SUMMARY:

This bill establishes the Pharmacy Outreach Program within the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. The program is to (1) help state residents obtain reduced or no-cost medicine from participating manufacturers and (2) educate residents about health care issues relating to the medicine. The bill requires the school to administer the program but allows it to contract with a vendor for administrative assistance.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

OBTAINING FREE OR REDUCED COST MEDICINE

The program must help residents obtain prescription or nonprescription medicine by (1) evaluating the likelihood that an applicant will qualify to receive reduced-cost or no-cost prescription or nonprescription medicine from a participating manufacturer based on each manufacturer’s eligibility requirements for their voluntary drug assistance programs, (2) helping residents complete application forms, and (3) helping physicians communicate with participating manufacturers about applications for assistance.

MEDICATION EDUCATION AND INTERVENTION RESOURCE CENTER

The bill requires the program to include a Medication Education and Intervention Resource Center. The center must (1) establish a statewide toll-free telephone number staffed by individuals qualified to counsel residents on questions concerning prescription and nonprescription drugs; (2) sponsor and organize presentations, workshops, and screenings in conjunction with other organizations about mental and physical health issues affecting the elderly; (3) offer and give medication information, including drug interaction and abuse information; and (4) offer in-person counseling to explain proper medication use and discourage misuse.

COMMITTEE ACTION

General Law Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute