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2001 SESSION

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HB 2633 Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program.

Introduced by: Mary T. Christian | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Virginia Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program. Establishes a program to be administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, modeled on Delaware's Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program, to assist eligible elderly and disabled Virginians in paying for prescription drugs. The Department of Medical Assistance Services may contract with third-party administrators to provide administrative services that include enrollment, outreach, eligibility determination, data collection, premium payment and collection, financial oversight and reporting. The benefit is limited to prescription drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies that agree to provide manufacturer rebates. Eligible persons must have incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level or have prescription drug expenses that exceed 40 percent of their annual income, as set forth in the appropriations act. They must also be age 65 or older or eligible for federal Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits, not be receiving a prescription drug benefit through a Medicare supplemental policy or other third-party payor prescription benefit as of July 1, 2001, and be ineligible for Medicaid prescription benefits; however, nothing shall prohibit the enrollment of a person in the Program during the period in which their Medicaid eligibility is determined. Eligible enrollees will receive an identification card to be presented to pharmacists and will start receiving the benefit the month after their eligibility is determined. Benefits will be paid to pharmacies under a point-of-service claims procedure to be established by the Department of Medical Assistance Services. Participants are required to make a co-payment for each prescription, which in general will not exceed 25 percent of the cost, but not less than five dollars. Money to pay the claims will come from the newly established Prescription Assistance Fund, which is to be financed by 10 percent of the proceeds received by the Commonwealth under the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement and any federal funds available for this purpose. Administrative costs are to be paid from the pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates to the extent available and the $20 annual enrollment fees. The Board shall develop a comprehensive statewide community-based outreach plan to enroll eligible persons and the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall report annually on the program's implementation. No entitlement to prescription drug coverage on the part of any eligible person or any right or entitlement to participation is created and such coverage shall only be available to the extent that funds are appropriated therefor. This bill was incorporated into HB 1665.


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