THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY McILHINNEY, WILLIAMS, ORIE, ALLOWAY, TOMLINSON, RAFFERTY, SMUCKER, PILEGGI, ERICKSON, EARLL, YUDICHAK, PIPPY, MENSCH, COSTA, BRUBAKER, M. WHITE, KASUNIC AND BREWSTER, FEBRUARY 3, 2011

REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, FEBRUARY 3, 2011  

AN ACT

Establishing the Keystone Care Prescription Assistance Program

in the Department of Public Welfare to provide prescription

drug assistance; and making an appropriation.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Keystone Care

Prescription Assistance Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Community-based health care clinic."  A nonprofit health

care center located in this Commonwealth that provides health

care services to low-income and uninsured individuals, and meets

either of the following criteria:

(1)  serves a federally designated medically underserved

area, a medically underserved population or a health

professional shortage area; or

(2)  serves a patient population with a majority of that

population having an income less than 200% of the Federal

poverty income guidelines, including:

(i)  A federally qualified health center as defined

in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (49

Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(l)(2)(B)) or a federally

qualified health center look-alike.

(ii)  A rural health clinic as defined in section

1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42

U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(2)), certified by Medicare.

(iii)  A hospital health clinic.

(iv)  A free or partial-pay health clinic that

provides services by volunteer and nonvolunteer health

care providers.

(v)  A nurse-managed health care clinic that is

managed by advanced practice nurses and is associated

with a department of nursing, a federally qualified

health center or an independent nonprofit health or

social services agency.

"Department."  The Department of Public Welfare of the

Commonwealth.

"Low-income adult."  An individual who meets all of the

following:

(1)  Is at least 19 years of age but less than 65 years

of age.

(2)  Resides in this Commonwealth for at least six

months.

(3)  Has a household income that is less than 200% of the

Federal poverty limit.

"Prescription drug."  A drug requiring a prescription in this

Commonwealth.

"Program."  The Keystone Care Prescription Assistance Program

established in section 3, otherwise known as KeyCare.

"Registry."  A listing maintained by the Department of Public

Welfare of free prescription drugs provided by pharmaceutical

manufacturers for dispensing at community-based health care

clinics.

Section 3.  Establishment.

The Keystone Care Prescription Assistance Program (KeyCare)

is hereby established within the department to:

(1)  Enable low-income adults without prescription drug

coverage to be linked to an appropriate free or low-cost

prescription assistance program.

(2)  Assist low-income adults who lack prescription drug

coverage in the application process for appropriate free or

low-cost prescription assistance programs.

(3)  Create a registry of free prescription drugs

provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers that are made

available to community-based health care clinics for

dispensing to individuals receiving health care at that

clinic.

Section 4.  Administration.

The department shall do all of the following:

(1)  Establish and maintain an online database of free or

low-cost prescription assistance programs.

(2)  Assist low-income adults with the application

process for enrollment in appropriate free or low-cost

prescription assistance programs.

(3)  Establish a toll-free telephone number for low-

income adults to use to contact the department for assistance

in the program.

(4)  Establish a public awareness campaign to educate

individuals about the program.

(5)  Establish a registry of free prescription drugs

provided at no cost by pharmaceutical manufacturers for

dispensing at community-based health care clinics.

(6)  Establish agreements with pharmaceutical

manufacturers for prescription drugs that will be provided at

no cost and may be placed on the registry.

(7)  Create a mechanism for community-based health care

clinics to access available prescription drugs placed on the

registry.

(8)  Consult with the State Board of Pharmacy to maximize

resources.

Section 5.  Limitations on payments by department.

The program shall not exceed the amount of funds available,

and any payment shall not constitute an entitlement from the

Commonwealth or a claim on any other funds of the Commonwealth.

Section 6.  Appropriation.

The sum of $1,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the

Department of Public Welfare to carry out the provisions of this

act.

Section 20.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 90 days.