Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format
Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.1208 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:20000301 Primary Sponsor:O'Dell All Sponsors: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, Bauer, Ryberg, Courson, Leatherman, Grooms Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\bbm\9307htc00.doc Companion Bill Number:4724 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM Date of Last Amendment:20000322 Subject:Seniors' Prescription Drug Program Act, Aging, Pharmacies and Pharmacists, Insurance Services, Budget and Control Board History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 20000328 Introduced, read first time, 30 HWM referred to Committee Senate 20000322 Co-Sponsor added by Senator Ryberg Courson Leatherman Grooms Senate 20000322 Amended, read third time, sent to House Senate 20000316 Read second time, notice of general amendments Senate 20000315 Committee report: Favorable 13 SMA ------ 20000303 Companion Bill No. 4724 Senate 20000301 Introduced, read first time, 13 SMA referred to Committee Versions of This Bill Revised on March 15, 2000 - Word format Revised on March 22, 2000 - Word format
AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
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.
This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:10 A.M.