PRINTER'S NO. 1323
No. 1135 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY WESTON, MAY 1, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MAY 1, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of November 4, 1983 (P.L.217, No.63), entitled
2 "An act establishing a program of limited pharmaceutical
3 assistance for the elderly; granting powers to and imposing
4 duties on the Department of Aging; establishing a payment
5 system; making provisions for funding; providing for reports;
6 and fixing penalties for violations of the pharmaceutical
7 assistance program," further providing for copayments.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 4(e)(5) of the act of November 4, 1983
11 (P.L.217, No.63), known as the Pharmaceutical Assistance
12 Contract for the Elderly Act, is amended to read:
13 Section 4. Responsibilities of Department of Aging.
14 * * *
15 (e) Program criteria.--The program shall include the
16 following criteria:
17 * * *
18 (5) The system established shall include a participant
19 copayment schedule of [$4] $3 for each prescription [for the
20 first year of the contract]. The copayment shall increase or
1 decrease on the annual basis by the average percent change of
2 ingredient costs for all prescription drugs plus a
3 differential to raise the copayment to the next highest 25¢
4 increment. In addition, the department may approve a request
5 for increase or decrease in the level of copayment based upon
6 the financial experience and projections of the program and
7 after consultation with the Pharmaceutical Assistance Review
8 Board. The department is prohibited from approving
9 adjustments to the copayment on more than a semiannual basis.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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