THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, CUTLER, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARRAR, BEAR, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BRADFORD, BRIGGS, BROWN, COHEN, CRUZ, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DRUCKER, ELLIS, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, HARKINS, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MANDERINO, MANN, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MENSCH, MICOZZIE, MOUL, MYERS, OLIVER, PAYTON, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PRESTON, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, SWANGER, R. TAYLOR, THOMAS, WATERS, WATSON, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, JULY 9, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JULY 9, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An

act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public

welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for electronic

prior approval for Medicaid.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known

as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to

read:

Section 450.  Electronic Prior Approval Process.--The

Medicaid program shall have an electronic prior approval process

in place by January 1, 2010, for use by physicians to secure

approval of nonpreferred drugs. The department shall draft

guidelines to update lists and processes on a regular basis in

order to best meet the needs of the citizens of this

Commonwealth.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.