H 4582 Joint Resolution, By Stuart, Allison, Cobb-Hunter, Freeman, Gilham, 
Haskins, Hinson, Lee, Martin, Meacham-Richardson, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, 
Neilson, Parks, Rodgers, A. Young, J. Hines and Askins

Similar(S 900, H 4507)
 A JOINT RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 IMMEDIATELY TO SUSPEND THE TWO DOLLAR AND FIVE CENTS REDUCTION IN PRESCRIPTION
 PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROVIDED FOR IN ITEM II OF MEDICAID BULLETIN PHARM
 01-06.

   01/24/02  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-16
   01/24/02  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-16
   02/06/02  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Askins

DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IMMEDIATELY TO SUSPEND THE TWO DOLLAR AND FIVE CENTS REDUCTION IN PRESCRIPTION PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROVIDED FOR IN ITEM II OF MEDICAID BULLETIN PHARM 01-06.

Whereas, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association serves to promote, elevate, and expand the practice of individual pharmacists in South Carolina; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association is dedicated to promoting high-quality pharmacist care and to restoring, maintaining, and promoting the health and well-being of the thousands of South Carolinians who are served by our state's pharmacists; and

Whereas, South Carolina's community pharmacies are an essential and easily accessible part of our state's health care system as most South Carolinians are within a few miles of a community pharmacy and rely on their community pharmacist for personal health care advice; and

Whereas, there are only two hundred ninety-eight independent community pharmacies in South Carolina, and even including the chain pharmacies, there are fewer pharmacies in South Carolina now than there were five years ago; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly wish to express their gratitude to the pharmacists practicing in our State for their critical role in providing quality health care to all South Carolinians and endeavor to assist these pharmacists in retaining their practices and thereby maintaining their essential role in our health care system; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly as well as the South Carolina Pharmacy Association, are grievously concerned that the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' recent, significant reduction in payment to pharmacists for Medicaid prescriptions could result in patients having less access to pharmacy services and could severely impact health care delivery and the practice of pharmacy in South Carolina. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    The Department of Health and Human Services shall immediately suspend the two dollar and five cents reduction in prescription payment reimbursements provided for in Item II of Medicaid Bulletin Pharm 01-06.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.