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2004 SESSION

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HB 1202 Pharmaceutical assist. programs & discount purchasing cards; dev. of a single applic. form, report.

Introduced by: Benjamin L. Cline | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS PASSED: (all summaries)

Promotion of pharmaceutical assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards. Requires the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of the Department for the Aging to develop a strategy, in coordination with the Virginia Area Agencies on Aging and other private and nonprofit organizations, for disseminating information to the public concerning the availability of pharmaceutical assistance programs and for training senior citizen volunteers to assist in completing applications for such programs and discount purchasing cards. The bill also requires the Commissioners to disseminate, with such funds as may be made available, information to the public relating to recent congressional actions concerning pharmaceutical benefits to be provided under the Medicare program and how such benefits may help senior citizens with the costs of pharmaceutical benefits. In addition, the two Commissioners will encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to include application forms for pharmaceutical discount purchasing card programs on their respective websites in a format capable of being downloaded and printed by consumers. The Department for the Aging will include direct links to the forms on its website, when practicable. The bill also requires the Commissioners to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the feasibility of developing a single application form for Virginians to use to seek eligibility for the nearly 50 pharmaceutical assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards. The bill also requires the Commissioners to disseminate, with such funds as may be made available, information to the public relating to recent congressional actions concerning pharmaceutical benefits to be provided under the Medicare program and how such benefits may help senior citizens with the costs of pharmaceutical benefits. In determining the feasibility, the Commissioners must obtain copies of the application forms used by such pharmaceutical assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards in Virginia, compile a list of the various information required to complete such application forms, identify common elements, and analyze the forms for readability and simplicity. In order to perform the duties provided in the new subsection, the Commissioners may appoint an advisory task force of stakeholders to assist them.


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