South Carolina General Assembly
113th Session, 1999-2000

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Bill 4724


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      4724
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20000302
Primary Sponsor:                  Allen
All Sponsors:                     Allen, Bales, Cobb-Hunter, Neilson, 
                                  Cotty, Sheheen, Wilkes, Lourie, Scott, Emory, 
                                  J.M. Neal, Howard, Wilder, J.H. Neal, 
                                  M. Hines, Harvin, Knotts, Whatley, Ott, Govan, 
                                  Askins, Bailey, Barfield, Battle, Bowers, 
                                  Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, Canty, 
                                  Carnell, Clyburn, Gourdine, Hayes, Inabinett, 
                                  Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Kirsh, Leach, 
                                  Lloyd, Loftis, Mack, Maddox, Martin, McCraw, 
                                  McGee, M. McLeod, W. McLeod, McMahand, Miller, 
                                  Moody-Lawrence, Hosey, Parks, Phillips, 
                                  Pinckney, Rhoad, Rutherford, J. Smith, Stille, 
                                  Townsend, Webb, Whipper and Witherspoon
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\bbm\9308htc00.doc
Companion Bill Number:            1208
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM
Subject:                          Seniors' Prescription Drug Program Act, 
                                  Aging, Pharmacies and Pharmacists, Insurance 
                                  Services, Budget and Control Board


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
------  20000303  Companion Bill No. 1208
House   20000302  Introduced, read first time,           30 HWM
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

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.

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:

"CHAPTER 130

The South Carolina Seniors'

Prescription Drug Program Act

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) 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.

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