PRINTER'S NO. 191
No. 175 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY ITKIN, SAURMAN, TRELLO, MORRIS, GREENWOOD, SEVENTY, LEVIN, NOYE, HAGARTY, KOSINSKI, DALEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, SHOWERS, KUKOVICH, MILLER, BARBER, DeLUCA, HONAMAN, WILSON, BOOK, FOX, FLICK, D. R. WRIGHT, BUSH, GAMBLE, LAUGHLIN, OLIVER, FREEMAN, PRESSMANN, ARTY, SEMMEL, PUNT, RAYMOND, MERRY, DISTLER, PRESTON AND ROBBINS, FEBRUARY 5, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, FEBRUARY 5, 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 program criteria; 8 and providing for a prescription drug education program. 9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 10 hereby enacts as follows: 11 Section 1. Section 4(e)(9) of the act of November 4, 1983 12 (P.L.217, No.63), known as the Pharmaceutical Assistance 13 Contract for the Elderly Act, is amended to read: 14 Section 4. Responsibilities of Department of Aging. 15 * * * 16 (e) Program criteria.--The program shall include the 17 following criteria: 18 * * *
1 (9) [A system of mail order delivery for prescriptions 2 shall be prohibited under this program.] The department may 3 not enter into a contract with a private contractor for an 4 exclusive mail order system for the delivery of prescription 5 drugs under this program. Nothing herein shall prohibit an 6 individual mail order pharmacy service that is licensed by 7 the Commonwealth and which has its principal place of 8 business within this Commonwealth from participating as a 9 provider under the program. 10 * * * 11 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read: 12 Section 4.1. Prescription drug education program. 13 The department, in cooperation with the Department of Health, 14 shall develop and implement a Statewide prescription drug 15 education program designed to inform older adults of the dangers 16 of prescription drug abuse and misuse. The prescription drug 17 education program shall include, but not be limited to, 18 information concerning the following: 19 (1) The hazards of prescription drug overdose. 20 (2) The potential dangers of mixing prescription drugs. 21 (3) The danger of retaining unused prescription drugs 22 after the need to take them no longer exists. 23 (4) The necessity to carefully question physicians and 24 pharmacists concerning the effects of taking prescription 25 drugs. 26 (5) The advisability of maintaining a prescription drug 27 profile or other record of prescription drug dosage and 28 frequency of dosage. 29 (6) The desirability of advising family members of the 30 types and proper dosage of prescription drugs which are being 19850H0175B0191 - 2 -
1 taken. 2 (7) The dangers of taking prescription drugs in excess 3 of prescribed dosages. 4 (8) The need to obtain complete, detailed directions 5 from the physician or pharmacist concerning the time period a 6 prescription drug should be taken. 7 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately. A18L67JLW/19850H0175B0191 - 3 -