South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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Bill 450

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

COMMITTEE REPORT

June 3, 2003

S. 450

Introduced by Senator Thomas

S. Printed 6/3/03--S.

Read the first time March 5, 2003.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 450) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 44-6-75 so as to provide that a requirement to obtain prior authorization or placing, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 6, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-6-75.    No prior authorizations or other prescriptive restrictions may be required on medications prescribed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, or major depressive disorders as defined by the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual IV of the American Psychiatry Association."

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

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

HARVEY S. PEELER, JR. for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

See Below

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES IS:

See Below

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)

The department is in the process of implementing a preferred drug list in an effort to contain costs. The department estimates that excluding medications used to treat mental illness will reduce anticipated savings resulting from implementation of the preferred drug list. Reduction in savings is estimated at $2.4 million in the General Fund of the State and $5.6 million in federal matching funds. According to DHHS drugs used to treat mental illness account for approximately 18.5% of Medicaid pharmacy expenditures.

Department of Mental Health (DMH)

This bill would have no impact on the General Fund of the State or on federal and/or other funds. DMH notes enactment would not change its current practices.

SPECIAL NOTES:

The italicized portion of this impact indicates the items that have been revised. For this impact, the revised constitutes information that was not available in the original impact.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-6-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OR PLACING OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON PRESCRIPTIONS FOR MEDICATIONS USED TO TREAT MENTAL ILLNESSES MAY NOT BE IMPOSED ON MEDICAID RECIPIENTS.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 6, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-6-75.    Notwithstanding another provision of law, a requirement to obtain prior authorization or placing other restrictions on prescriptions for medications prescribed for treatment of mental illnesses including, but not limited to, schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder may not be imposed on Medicaid recipients."

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

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