71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 3129
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                          Senate Bill 9
                  Ordered by the Senate May 10
            Including Senate Amendments dated May 10
 
Sponsored by Senator DERFLER; Senators ATKINSON, FERRIOLI,
  FISHER, HARTUNG, MESSERLE, MINNIS, NELSON, STARR
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Creates Patient Prescription Drug Assistance Program in College
of Pharmacy at Oregon State University to assist low-income
Oregonians in gaining access to prescription drug assistance
programs offered by pharmaceutical companies { +  if patient is
not eligible for publicly funded prescription drug benefit + }.
  Appropriates moneys to Department of Higher Education for
program.
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2001.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to prescription drug assistance; appropriating money;
  and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Patient Prescription Drug Assistance
Program is established in the College of Pharmacy at Oregon State
University. The purpose of the program is to match low-income
Oregonians who lack prescription drug benefit coverage with
prescription drug assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical
companies.
  (2) The program shall:
  (a) Provide information on:
  (A) Eligibility requirements and coverage provided by publicly
funded prescription drug benefit programs administered by the
Department of Human Services; and
  (B) The process for applying to receive publicly funded
prescription drug benefits;
  (b) Assist a patient in applying to pharmaceutical companies
for free or discounted prescription drug medications if the
patient is not eligible for any publicly funded prescription drug
benefit program;
  (c) Provide information, in an organized and easily understood
manner, to patients, physicians, pharmacists and pharmacies
regarding patient qualifications for prescription drug assistance
programs;
  (d) Increase awareness of the various prescription drug
assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies; and
 
  (e) Establish a toll-free hotline and Internet website to
increase public awareness of the Patient Prescription Drug
Assistance Program and to provide public access to the
information and services provided through the program. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + There is appropriated to the Department of
Higher Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, out of
the General Fund, the amount of $_____ for the College of
Pharmacy at Oregon State University to implement section 1 of
this 2001 Act. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1,
2001. + }
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