PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 4494 PRINTER'S NO. 4642
No. 715 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY VANCE, S. H. SMITH, ARGALL, FLEAGLE AND NICKOL,
OCTOBER 22, 2002
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 19, 2002
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Requesting the President of the United States to direct the
2 Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with the
3 Commonwealth to secure eligibility for the Medicaid 1115 <--
4 Pharmacy Plus waiver DEVELOP AN ACCEPTABLE WAIVER THAT CAN BE <--
5 APPROVED GIVING PENNSYLVANIA CREDIT FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF
6 LEADERSHIP IN THE PROVISION OF PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE
7 COVERAGE FOR LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE CORRESPONDING
8 COST AVOIDANCE THAT HAS BENEFITED THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
9 PROGRAM.
10 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been providing
11 pharmaceutical assistance coverage for low-income senior
12 citizens for 20 years; and
13 WHEREAS, State Lottery Fund revenues support the
14 Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) and
15 the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs
16 Enhancement Tier (PACENET) programs; and
17 WHEREAS, More than $1 million is spent on average per day on
18 pharmaceutical coverage for enrollees; and
19 WHEREAS, These programs have saved and will continue to save
20 uncountable millions in potential hospitalizations and nursing
21 care facility institutionalization costs that were prevented or
1 delayed because enrollees were kept healthy with their needed
2 prescription medications; and
3 WHEREAS, The Federal Government has recognized the potential
4 value of providing pharmaceutical assistance coverage to low-
5 income seniors; and
6 WHEREAS, A Federal waiver to Medicaid rules, the 1115
7 Pharmacy Plus waiver, is being offered to the states; and
8 WHEREAS, A state's 1115 waiver application must prove cost
9 neutrality for the Federal Government's medical assistance
10 program funding in order for Federal approval to be obtained;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, A feasibility study was conducted to investigate
13 Pennsylvania's ability to prove cost neutrality; and
14 WHEREAS, That study indicates that Pennsylvania will be
15 unable to prove cost neutrality without the implementation of
16 draconian cost containment measures on the PACE and PACENET
17 programs because the generosity of those programs has already
18 avoided costs most other states will be counting as cost
19 neutrality provisions; and
20 WHEREAS, The existing criteria for the 1115 Pharmacy Plus
21 Federal waiver unfairly penalize Pennsylvania for its leadership
22 role in caring for and providing pharmaceutical assistance to
23 our elderly; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
25 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania request the President of the
26 United States to direct the Secretary of Health and Human
27 Services to work with the Commonwealth to develop an acceptable
28 waiver that can be approved giving Pennsylvania credit for its
29 many years of leadership in the provision of pharmaceutical
30 assistance coverage for low-income senior citizens and the
20020H0715R4642 - 2 -
1 corresponding cost avoidance that has benefited the medical
2 assistance program; AND BE IT FURTHER <--
3 RESOLVED, THAT COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION BE TRANSMITTED TO
4 THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
5 HUMAN SERVICES AND TO EACH MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
J21L80RZ/20020H0715R4642 - 3 -