PRINTER'S NO. 3560
No. 2640 Session of 1982
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, SEPTEMBER 13, 1982
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, SEPTEMBER 13, 1982
AN ACT
1 Establishing a program of pharmaceutical assistance to the aged.
2 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
3 hereby enacts as follows:
4 Section 1. Short title.
5 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Senior
6 Citizens Prescription Drug Assistance Act."
7 Section 2. Definitions.
8 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
9 have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
10 meanings given to them in this section:
11 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare.
12 "Eligible claimant." Any single resident of the Commonwealth
13 65 years of age and over whose annual income is less than the
14 maximum annual income, or any married resident whose annual
15 income is less than the maximum annual income, shall be eligible
16 for the program if such person is not otherwise qualified for
17 assistance under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
1 as the "Public Welfare Code."
2 "Maximum annual income." That annual income amount as
3 determined by the department. Such amount shall not exceed
4 $9,000 in the case of single persons nor $12,000 in the case of
5 the combined annual income of married persons.
6 "Prescription drugs." All legend drugs, insulin, insulin
7 syringes and insulin needles.
8 "Program." The program of pharmaceutical assistance to the
9 aged as established by this act.
10 "Reasonable cost." The cost of prescription drugs and a
11 dispensing fee, as determined by the department.
12 Section 3. Payments under program.
13 The program shall consist of payments to pharmacies on behalf
14 of eligible claimants for the reasonable cost of prescription
15 drugs which exceed a $1 copayment per prescription or per
16 purchase of insulin, paid by each eligible claimant.
17 Section 4. Coordination of benefits.
18 Any otherwise eligible claimant whose prescription drug costs
19 are wholly covered by any other plan of assistance or insurance
20 shall be ineligible for assistance under this act. Any otherwise
21 eligible claimant whose prescription drug costs are covered in
22 part by any other plan of assistance or insurance may be
23 required to receive reduced assistance under the provisions of
24 this act.
25 Section 5. Funding.
26 (a) Lottery fund.--Funding for the program established by
27 this act shall be from any excess funds existing in the State
28 Lottery Fund after payment of all obligations arising under the
29 act of March 11, 1971 (P.L.104, No.3), known as the "Senior
30 Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act," on an annual basis.
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1 (b) Appropriation.--The General Assembly may appropriate
2 General Fund moneys to fund in whole or in part, the program
3 established by this act.
4 Section 6. Payment system.
5 (a) Departmental regulations.--The department shall by
6 regulation establish a system of payments or reimbursements and
7 a system for determining eligibility, including provisions for
8 submission of proof of actual and anticipated annual income, and
9 evidence of complete or partial coverage of prescription drug
10 costs by any other assistance or insurance plans.
11 (b) Contract.--In lieu of a payment system established
12 pursuant to subsection (a) the department may contract for the
13 establishment of such a system, if such a contract would be
14 economically advantageous to the Commonwealth.
15 Section 7. Effective date.
16 This act shall take effect on January 1, 1983.
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