2019 -- H 5204 | |
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LC000645 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND BEST RX | |
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR THE UNINSURED | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Fogarty, Diaz, Edwards, and Solomon | |
Date Introduced: January 25, 2019 | |
Referred To: House Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 42-66.2.1-4.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-66.2.1 entitled |
2 | "Rhode Island Best RX Prescription Drug Discount Program for the Uninsured" is hereby |
3 | amended to read as follows: |
4 | 42-66.2.1-4.1. Discount agreements. |
5 | (a) The contractor shall be authorized to negotiate and enter into agreements with |
6 | manufacturers and pharmacies to provide discounts on prescription drugs. In general, the |
7 | contractor shall seek discounts from pharmacies and manufacturers that are comparable to those |
8 | available under health plans that provide pharmacy benefits to employees of state and local |
9 | government entities. |
10 | (b) The departments of human services and elderly affairs, in consultation with the |
11 | contractor, shall establish maximum prices to be charged an enrollee, and the contractor shall |
12 | establish and publicize special value prices where it has established a significant discount on a |
13 | generic drug or where a drug's manufacturer has agreed to subsidize discounts by making |
14 | quarterly rebate payments. The contractor shall establish any arrangements for compensating |
15 | pharmacies where the prices payable by enrollees have been reduced using manufacturer rebates, |
16 | and for collecting administrative fees paid by enrollees to pharmacies. The contractor shall |
17 | establish arrangements for facilitating application by Best Rx enrollees to patient assistance |
18 | programs offered by participating manufacturers. |
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1 | (c) Pharmacy dispensing fees shall be uniformly established in advance at an amount that |
2 | shall not exceed two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per prescription, and shall be paid directly to |
3 | the pharmacy by the program beneficiaries. |
4 | (d) The departments of human services and elderly affairs, in consultation with the |
5 | contractor as defined in ยง 42-66.2-3 shall ensure that no copays are assessed to any enrollee |
6 | pursuant to this chapter. |
7 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND BEST RX | |
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR THE UNINSURED | |
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1 | This act would require that enrollees in the Rhode Island best RX Prescription drug |
2 | discount program for the uninsured are not charged a copay for their prescriptions. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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