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 3061
 
                         Senate Bill 927
 
Sponsored by Senator MINNIS, Representative MINNIS; Senators
  ATKINSON, R BEYER, CLARNO, DERFLER, DUNCAN, FERRIOLI, GEORGE,
  HARPER, MESSERLE, MILLER, NELSON, STARR, Representatives
  BACKLUND, CARLSON, DOYLE, HAYDEN, HILL, JENSON, KNOPP, KROPF,
  KRUSE, LEE, NELSON, PATRIDGE, SHETTERLY, G SMITH, P SMITH, T
  SMITH, STARR, WESTLUND, WILLIAMS, WINTERS, ZAUNER
 
 
                             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 as
introduced.
 
  Creates Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program in
Department of Human Services.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Human
Services for program.
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2001.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to prescription drug assistance for seniors;
  appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + As used in this section and section 2 of this
2001 Act:
  (1) 'Eligible person' means a resident of the state who:
  (a) Is 65 years of age or older;
  (b) Has a gross annual income of not more than 185 percent of
the federal poverty guidelines; and
  (c) Is not covered under any public or private prescription
drug benefit program.
  (2) 'Enrollee' means an eligible person who is enrolled in the
Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program.
  (3) 'Federal poverty guidelines' means the most recent poverty
guidelines as published annually in the Federal Register by the
United States Department of Health and Human Services.
  (4) 'Income' has the meaning given that term in ORS 413.005.
  (5) 'Medical assistance' has the meaning given that term in ORS
414.025.
  (6) 'Public assistance' has the meaning given that term in ORS
411.010. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) The Senior Prescription Drug Assistance
Program is created in the Department of Human Services. The
purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to
eligible individuals for the purchase of prescription drugs.
  (2) The Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program shall
provide reimbursement to a pharmacy in the same manner and for
the same prescription drugs covered by the medical assistance
 
program operated under ORS chapter 414 when incurred by an
enrollee of the program.
  (3) The department shall develop a single-page application for
the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program and issue a
program card to enrolled persons. The department shall assist
applicants in applying for public assistance programs for which
they may qualify.
  (4) For each prescription, an enrollee shall be responsible for
a copayment of:
  (a) Not more than $15 per prescription drug in the generic
form; and
  (b) Not more than $30 per prescription drug in the nongeneric
form.
  (5) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, an enrollee
who has spent $2,000 for copayments in a calendar year for
prescription drugs through the Senior Prescription Drug
Assistance Program is not responsible for additional copayments
in that calendar year. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + (1) The Governor's Commission on Senior
Services shall advise the Governor and the Director of Human
Services on the implementation and operation of the Senior
Prescription Drug Assistance Program.
  (2) The commission shall submit written recommendations
annually to the Governor and the director regarding changes to
the administration, management, eligibility criteria, benefits,
cost-sharing requirements, marketing and outreach strategies,
funding or any other aspects of the program. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + The Department of Human Services shall adopt
rules necessary to implement sections 1 and 2 of this 2001
Act. + }
  SECTION 5.  { + If a federal program providing a similar
prescription drug benefit for seniors is enacted, the Director of
Human Services shall notify the Governor and discontinue the
Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program. + }
  SECTION 6.  { + There is appropriated to the Department of
Human Services, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, out of
the General Fund, the amount of $___ for the purpose of carrying
out sections 1 and 2 of this 2001 Act. + }
  SECTION 7.  { + 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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