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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.4949 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:20020321 Primary Sponsor:Quinn All Sponsors:Quinn Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\swb\5247zcw02.doc Date Bill Passed both Bodies:20020326 Subject:Pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 20020326 Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence House 20020321 Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate Versions of This Bill
TO COMMEND GLAXOSMITHKLINE, NOVARTIS, PFIZER, AND ELI LILLY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES FOR STEPPING FORWARD WITH THEIR PLANS TO REDUCE PRESCRIPTION COSTS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA'S ELDERLY CITIZENS, AND TO URGE STATE POLICY MAKERS TO CONTINUE TO HELP FOSTER THESE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AND NATIONAL COMPANIES ALL WITH THE GOAL OF ENHANCING THE HEALTH CARE OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR STATE'S CITIZENS.
Whereas, several pharmaceutical manufacturers have recently come forth with initiatives aimed at helping low income Medicare beneficiaries in South Carolina receive needed health care, and these proposals may help our citizens better bridge this gap; and
Whereas, in October 2001, GlaxoSmithKline announced its "Orange Card", an innovative program offering significant savings on its outpatient prescription medications to low income seniors and the disabled; and
Whereas, more recently Novartis, Pfizer, and Lilly have also announced unique programs of their own that provide pharmaceutical products to needy seniors at a nominal cost; and
Whereas, these programs, along with the patient assistance programs being operated by most of the larger pharmaceutical companies, provide a significant safety net for our citizens, and are an effort of these companies to give back to the needy in our society; and
Whereas, while our leaders in Washington continue to debate the mechanisms of a possible nationwide approach to a Medicare pharmacy program, these companies have seen the need to step forward to help those truly in need; and
Whereas, this is another example of a private-public partnership benefiting our State and country, as these additional programs add to the number of people that can be served beyond our Silver Card Program, and the General Assembly is hereby made to be cognizant of these novel approaches; and
Whereas, the cost of health care, especially for those without coverage, has been a difficult issue that state budget leaders have been grappling with for the last two years. These initiatives are a distinct recognition of the particular needs of low income seniors. With this new discount, tens of thousands of seniors in South Carolina will have access to more affordable drugs for the first time. These discount approaches are an essential piece in the challenging puzzle to modernize our health care system and give seniors the care they deserve. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina commend these companies for stepping forward with their plans to reduce prescription costs for South Carolina's elderly citizens, and urge policymakers to continue to help foster these cooperative efforts of state government and local and national companies all with the goal of enhancing the health care options and opportunities for all of our state's citizens.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly.
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