S 1208 General Bill, By O'Dell, J.V. Smith, Land, Bryan, Patterson, Matthews, 
Waldrep, Anderson, Mescher, McConnell, Leventis, Peeler, Thomas, Drummond, 
Reese, Giese, Short, Branton, Hutto, Wilson, McGill, Elliott, Passailaigue, 
Ravenel, Martin, Richardson, Saleeby, Washington, Alexander, Moore, Setzler, 
Glover, Hayes, Bauer, Ryberg, Courson, Leatherman and Grooms

Similar(H 4724)
 A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO
 HEALTH BY ADDING CHAPTER 130, ENACTING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENIORS'
 PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM ACT, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY
 THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE SERVICES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO
 PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN PURCHASING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO RESIDENTS OF
 THIS STATE WHO HAVE ATTAINED AGE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR
 MEDICAID OR ANY OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS AND WHOSE ANNUAL INCOME DOES
 NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, TO DEFINE
 "PRESCRIPTION DRUG" FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM, AND TO REQUIRE SEMIANNUAL
 REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE
 PROGRAM.

   03/01/00  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   03/01/00  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-7
   03/15/00  Senate Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs SJ-6
   03/16/00  Senate Read second time SJ-21
   03/16/00  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-21
   03/22/00  Senate Amended SJ-23
   03/22/00  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-23
   03/28/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-232
   03/28/00  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-233

March 22, 2000

S. 1208

Introduced by Senators O'Dell, J. Verne Smith, Land, Bryan, Patterson, Matthews, Waldrep, Anderson, Mescher, McConnell, Leventis, Peeler, Thomas, Drummond, Reese, Giese, Short, Branton, Hutto, Wilson, McGill, Elliott, Passailaigue, Ravenel, Martin, Richardson, Saleeby, Washington, Alexander, Moore, Setzler, Glover, Hayes and Bauer

S. Printed 3/22/00--S.

Read the first time March 1, 2000.

TO AMEND TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HEALTH BY ADDING CHAPTER 130, ENACTING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENIORS' PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM ACT, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE SERVICES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN PURCHASING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE WHO HAVE ATTAINED AGE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID OR ANY OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS AND WHOSE ANNUAL INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, TO DEFINE "PRESCRIPTION DRUG" FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM, AND TO REQUIRE SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 44-130-10. This chapter may be cited as the 'South Carolina Seniors' Prescription Drug Program Act'.

Section 44-130-20. There is created within the Office of Insurance Service of the State Budget and Control Board the South Carolina Seniors' Prescription Drug Program. Beginning January 1, 2001, this program must provide financial assistance to senior citizens in purchasing prescription drugs who are ineligible for or do not have insurance coverage or other assistance through federal, state, or private programs for these purchases. Prescription drugs are defined as outpatient prescription drugs, including insulin syringes and insulin needles, and insulin. Only prescription drugs that have been approved as safe and effective by the United States Food and Drug Administration are covered under this program. Experimental drugs and over the counter pharmaceutical products are specifically not covered under this program.

The Office of Insurance Services shall maintain data to allow evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the program and submit semiannual reports to the Governor and General Assembly summarizing beneficiary demographics, utilization, provider dispensing experience, and any other information needed to evaluate the costs and benefits of the prescription drug program.

Section 44-130-30. This program must be administered by the State Budget and Control Board through its Office of Insurance Services. The office may designate or enter into contracts with other entities to assist in this administration. The program may include:

(1) co-payments and deductibles based on income;

(2) incentives for the use of generic drugs; and

(3) prospective and retrospective utilization review, clinical management, and other administrative techniques used in the management of the State Health Insurance Plan in order to reduce drug interactions, overutilizations, therapeutic duplications, or early refills.

When requested by the office, other state agencies shall provide assistance or information necessary in the administration of this program.

Section 44-130-40. A person eligible to participate for this program must:

(1) be a South Carolina resident who has attained the age of sixty-five years;

(2) have resided in South Carolina at least six consecutive months before participation in the program;

(3) be ineligible for Medicaid prescription benefits;

(4) not have any pharmacy benefits or coverage from any governmental or private insurance program providing such benefits;

(5) have an annual income that does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.

Priority must be given to applicants without Medicare supplements or other third party benefits or coverage during the six months before application. If federal programs provide significant similar benefits to seniors eligible under this program, the office may reassess the program and provide similar or other pharmacy benefits to seniors if the program's costs remain substantially similar."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.